Dikko Radda, governor of Katsina, says it would be difficult to address the issue of insecurity without taking measures to alleviate poverty.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, the governor unveiled his administration’s accomplishments in curbing poverty in state since his assumption in office.
“If you are unable to stop or to reduce poverty and provide the teaming youths job opportunities, it will be very difficult to address the issue of insecurity,” NAN quoted the governor as saying.
“It is true that you don’t need anybody to tell you that there’s poverty. We also understood that the problem of insecurity is attached to the problem of banditry and criminalities that we have in our region. We promised to approach the problem in two ways, kinetic and non-kinetic approach.
Radda said it established the Katsina state enterprise development agency, aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly micro and small businesses
He said the state government set aside a budget of N3.4 billion in collaboration with the Bank of Industries as managers.
“Just in the last three weeks, we launched the training of 3,000 youths across the state on mechatronics, who would be attached to various workshops.
“After their graduation, we’ll support them to set up their own workshops, so that they can provide job opportunities for our teaming youths in the state.
Radda said the state is implementing community centers in villages to develop, provide employment, and support to young men and women in localities.
“We concentrating on the frontline and vulnerable local governments so that the government will address that issue squarely,” the governor continued.
“Second way of fighting poverty is to improve productivity. Agriculture is our major occupation, that’s why we created Katsina State Irrigation authority.
“The aim is to have all year-round irrigation farming in the state, that will reduce redundancy, and keep everybody busy.
The governor said the importance of farmers being educated about farming as a business to boost productivity.
He noted that upon his assumption in office, there were only 72 extension workers in the state, but now there are 722.
“Just yesterday we gave each of them a motorcycle and other equipment to enable them move around to enlighten farmers on the way to improve their productivity.
“We also launched the sales of about 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer to farmers in the state at a very subsidised price.
“These are some of the things that we are putting in place to engage the farmers, the youths and the locals to be more productive, reduce the level of poverty and improve their livelihood.”
The governor added that the state government, through the KT-CARES, has supported over 6,100 farmers in the state.
“We also supported women and youths with items worth over N2.5billion to get them moving.”