Three international development agencies, namely, African Development Bank (ADB), the Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have promised to partner with Katsina on the provision of infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas in the state.
At a separate meeting with Governor Aminu Bello Masari in Abuja, each of the agencies assured the Governor that they are prepared, and, are indeed ready, to key into the development programmes of Katsina so as to address the security and other challenges tasking the meager resources of the State.
Governor Masari, who visited the regional headquarters of JICA, AFD and ADB (in that order) Monday, has sought the support of the agencies to assist Katsina State to fast-track development, especially in the rural ares of the state.
The Governor associated the banditry by herdsmen and other security challenges that have hitherto bedevilled the state to the systematic neglect of the herdsmen by successive governments to provide essential infrastructure to their communities, mostly located in the forest.
He said although the state government had been able to successfully persuade the herdsmen to renounce their criminal ways of life and embrace peace, the government must however, put in place the structures that would sustain the peace permanently.
He added that after the government’s dialogue with the commanders of the bandits in the eight affected local government areas, nearly two months ago, kidnapp and other forms of banditry have completely stopped in the state.But Katsina State, according to him, does not have the resources to provide the necessary infrastructure to the herders’ communities.
These he said include primary schools, clinics, water points for human and animal use.The Governor told his guests that in the past two years, his administration had built 10 primary schools and 10 clinics in some of the herders’ communities, and has since concluded plan for ten more of each, which would have since been built but for the activities of the bandits.In addition, the government has also expended over N100 million to demarcate cattle routes, which had been encroached by farmers, he further said. “Our engagements with the bandits have been successful because there has never been anymore kidnapping in the state since then. “Also, all known persons kidnapped by the bandits have been released by their captors.
At the African Development Bank, the Senior Director and Head of the Nigeria Country Department, Ebrima FAAL observed that although Nigeria was not a fragile state, its situation is (fragile) because of the security challenges confronting the country.He said that global and regional financial institutions were in the process of trying to raise funds to address the issue of insecurity around Lake Chad area.The ADB, according to him, has approved projects worth 250 million dollar in Nigeria. He assured the Governor that the ADB would be interested to partner with the government in the area of education and water supply in Katsina State.Similar positive assurances were given at AFD and JICA, where the each Country Director promised to make their presence felt in the areas of education and water supply in the remote parts of the state.The Country Director of AFD, Mr. Pascal Grangereau said his agency was already on ground in Katsina State, but promised to ramp up its activities to involve more rural communities.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES TO PARTNER WITH KATSINA ON DEVELOPMENT.
Three international development agencies, namely, African Development Bank (ADB), the Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have promised to partner with Katsina on the provision of infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas in the state.At a separate meeting with Governor Aminu Bello Masari in Abuja, each of the agencies assured the Governor that they are prepared, and, are indeed ready, to key in to the development programmes of Katsina
.The Governor associated the banditry by herdsmen and other security challenges that have hitherto bedevilled the state to the systematic neglect of the herdsmen by successive governments to provide essential infrastructure to their communities, mostly located in the forest.He said although the state government had been able to successfully persuade the herdsmen to renounce their criminal ways of life and embrace peace, the government must however, put in place the structures that would sustain the peace permanently.He added that after the government’s dialogue with the commanders of the bandits in the eight affected local government areas, nearly two months ago, kidnapp and other forms of banditry have completely stopped in the state.But Katsina State, according to him, does not have the resources to provide the necessary infrastructure to the herders’ communities. These include primary schools, clinics, water points for human and animal use.The Governor told his guests that in the past two years, his administration had built 10 primary schools and 10 clinics in some of the herders’ communities, and has since concluded plan for ten more of each, which would have since been built but for the activities of the bandits.
In addition, the government has also expended over N100 million to demarcate cattle routes, which had been encroached by farmers, he further said. “Our engagements with the bandits have been successful because there has never been anymore kidnapping in the state since then.
“Also, all known persons kidnapped by the bandits have been released by their captors.”
At the African Development Bank, the Senior Director and Head of the Nigeria Country Department, Ebrima FAAL observed that although Nigeria was not a fragile state, its situation is (fragile) because of the security challenges confronting the country.
He said that global and regional financial institutions were in the process of trying to raise funds to address the issue of insecurity around Lake Chad area.The ADB, according to him, has approved projects worth 250 million dollar in Nigeria.
He assured the Governor that the ADB would be interested to partner with the government in the area of education and water supply in Katsina State.
Similar positive assurances were given at AFD and JICA, where the each Country Director promised to make their presence felt in the areas of education and water supply in the remote parts of the state.
The Country Director of AFD, Mr. Pascal Grangereau said his agency was already on ground in Katsina State, but promised to ramp up its activities to involve more rural communities
