Katsina State Government is set to receive the Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA 2025), organised by BusinessDay Media Limited, under the Agriculture Competitiveness and Security Improvement categories.
The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on April 16, 2026, at Lady Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton), Abuja.
The organisers said the award recognises states making strong progress in reforms, governance, and investment readiness across Nigeria.
They noted that Katsina State’s selection is based on “verifiable and performance-driven progress” recorded under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, particularly in agriculture and security.
According to them, the state has repositioned agriculture through bold reforms aimed at improving productivity and strengthening rural economic inclusion.
“The mechanisation programme, with over 400 tractors and the establishment of a new Agricultural Mechanisation Centre, has significantly improved productivity,” they stated.
They added that agricultural extension services have expanded from about 74 to over 780 officers, improving farmer support, modern farming practices, and food security.
The organisers further explained that these interventions have strengthened rural livelihoods and positioned agriculture as a major driver of economic stability in the state.
On security, they stated that the establishment of the Community Watch Corps has enhanced local intelligence gathering and strengthened collaboration with conventional security agencies.
“There is improved stability across 26 Local Government Areas, which has boosted farming activities and increased investor confidence,” they added.
They noted that the integration of security and agricultural reforms continues to contribute significantly to economic growth and social stability in Katsina State.
Other key achievements highlighted include major infrastructure projects such as the Eastern Bypass, expansion of healthcare services, large-scale teacher recruitment, and the digitisation of revenue and treasury systems.
They explained that the SCIRA evaluation is based on policy execution, economic impact, and sustainability, noting that Katsina State recorded strong performance across all assessment indicators.
Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State
13 April, 2026