Groundbreaking of 152 housing units in Jibia

With gratitude to Almighty Allah, I feel highly honored and privileged to, on behalf of the good people and government of Katsina State, welcome everybody to this auspicious occasion, the official flag-off and ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 152 mass housing units. These houses when completed will be distributed to less privileged / internally displaced persons who had suffered the negative effects of armed banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities in this area. The houses to be constructed are part of a bigger package offered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the state and the North-west region in our efforts towards curbing the menace of insecurity in the region and providing succor to the victims. At this juncture I feel obliged to mention that, since the inception of this administration, we had made security of lives and properties in this state, our top agenda. Hence, over the last 17 months of this administration, we had invested so much on security. Our administration had created a local security outfit code-named Katsina State Community Watch Corps (CWC). So far, about 1,500 able men and women have been recruited, trained and posted to the security challenged frontline LGAs to compliment the efforts of the Security Agencies in the State. The second batch of the CWC are also undergoing training and they would be commissioned soon. The government had also spent over N7Billion to procure modern Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs); 65 Hilux vans and 700 motorcycles. This is to assist in patrol and to checkmate the activities of kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the state.

These are in addition to several other measures put in place By the current administration to ensure the implementation of the Build Your Future (BYF) agenda of the state government which was aimed at securing lives and properties of our people, enhancing agricultural production, job creation, preserving cultural heritage, tourism promotion, vibrant healthcare delivery, boosting Internally generated revenue, rejuvenating the education sector, reform of public sector administration and Institutionalization of effective approach to land management and physical planning.

Our efforts on improving security, had yielded so much dividends for all to see and judge. So far, we were able to tame these criminals to operate only around the fringes of the forests. A few surprise attacks being meted around settlements near the forests in the frontline Local Governments, are being handled by the joint teams of Military, Police and our Community Watch Corps. This year we have seen improvements in rainy season farming across the state due to improved security. Insha Allah, the issue of insecurity in the state and in the country will be a history in the near future.

Let me at this juncture once again, express my heartfelt gratitude to UNDP, for the continued support to our dear state and Nigeria at large. The UNDP is quite aware of the efforts our administration is making towards improving security and general livelihood of our people. Thus, whenever we extend our hands for support, they quickly respond. We therefore remain highly grateful for these gestures.

At this juncture, I want to assure the UNDP of prudent and judicious use of all the resources it is committing to the state, including other support services being offered to our people, such as livelihood support in form of grants for the victims and other less privileged households in the area for business, farming, animal husbandry, etc.

We share common values with the UNDP in humanitarian services, therefore we remain committed towards ensuring that the objectives are achieved, such that anxiety, fear, poverty, idleness and trauma affecting our people, especially the victims of banditry and kidnapping, are significantly reduced if not totally eliminated.

To the contractors and consultants for this project, I urge you to put so much professionalism and come up with the expected structures based on specifications such that we will all be proud at the end. We expect you also to patronize local dealers around Jibia for the purchase of your working materials wherever possible. However, you should never compromise quality. Also endeavor to hire local laborers in the field.

I also want to use this opportunity to salute our traditional rulers for their steadfastness in assisting the government to achieve its objectives, by supporting our programmes and policies. I urge you and other community members alike to continue to pray for us, for the state and the country at large for a lasting peace, harmony and development.

Finally, I want to once again appreciate the UNDP for the support and assistance to the good people and government of Katsina State. I pray that Allah, the Almighty who brought us here safely will grant us journey mercies back to our respective destinations. NOR Thank you and May Allah bless us all.

Long live Katsina State, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.