Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Radda, has said his administration has made significant gains in the fight against insecurity, even as he admitted much more must be done to eradicate banditry and related criminality in the state.

Radda stated this during a statewide broadcast as part of activities to mark his administration’s second anniversary.

He said when he assumed office, he met 26 of the state’s 34 Local Government Areas affected by insecurity and had to hit the ground running by coming up with measures to address the situation.

The governor noted the establishment of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KCWC) by his government, which he said greatly reduced the security challenge, and that the corps had become a model for many security-prone states.

“We have made significant gains in the fight against insecurity, but much more must be done to eradicate banditry and other forms of criminality. We continue to work with the federal government and the military to bring an end to this menace.

“We will continue our policy of supporting victims rather than paying ransoms to bandits,” while calling on citizens to “work with the authorities and provide information where it will lead to the arrest or termination of bandits,” he said.

Radda also said his government had made massive investments in agriculture and livestock development, with the view of addressing food insecurity in the state.

According to him, the administration has supported thousands of farmers with small-scale irrigation technologies and established the multi-billion naira Katsina State Agricultural Mechanisation Centre.

“With 400 tractors, matching implements, combined harvesters, planters, mobile irrigation rigs, and other equipment, we are set to revolutionise the sector,” adding that extension workers increased from 74 to over 780 under his watch.

“The next step is to establish processing zones to create value addition and consumer products in the sector. Katsina will become a net exporter of processed agricultural products soon,” he said.

He further said his administration recorded modest achievements in healthcare delivery, even as he reiterated commitment to “providing one fully functional primary healthcare centre in each of the 361 wards,” with 158 currently completed.

He said major healthcare investments include recruiting 638 additional workers, sponsoring 41 students abroad for medical studies, and establishing “the best dialysis centre in the country.”

He added that the administration has also committed to building the best radiology and laboratory diagnostic centre in the country in partnership with Siemens Healthineers.

On medical tourism, the governor said, “We are deliberate about turning Katsina State into a primary destination for medical tourism within the country. This is our long-term strategy to ensure our people access the best healthcare at affordable cost.”

In education, Radda said more than 150 primary schools and 75 junior and senior secondary schools had been constructed since he came into office, adding that an additional 77 secondary schools are currently under construction.

He said the administration has recruited over 7,250 teachers and is introducing computer technology to schools for early exposure to modern education.