Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to rebuild lives and restore livelihoods affected by insecurity, describing the World Bank–supported Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities (SOLID) project as a “timely and strategic intervention that will bring lasting peace and renewed hope to affected communities.”
Governor Radda stated this today when he received the World Bank Task Team Leader for the SOLID Project, Mr. Christopher Mays Johnson, and the Senior Social Development Specialist, Hajiya Zarah Goni Imam, at Katsina House, Asokoro, Abuja.
The delegation was introduced by the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB), Dr. Mustapha Shehu.
According to the World Bank team, the visit formed part of the preparatory activities for the full commencement of the SOLID Project, which aims to enhance resilience and provide sustainable support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities across Northern Nigeria.
Governor Radda commended the World Bank for its enduring partnership, noting that Katsina has faced severe challenges due to banditry and rural displacement but has continued to make remarkable progress through peace-driven initiatives.
He explained that in recent months, several armed groups had voluntarily approached affected communities to seek peace accords and coexistence arrangements, marking a positive shift toward local stability. “Today, I can confidently say criminality has drastically reduced across our major flashpoints,” the Governor said. “We are now concentrating on rebuilding schools, hospitals, and water facilities that were destroyed during the crisis.”
The Governor disclosed that his administration is implementing a rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant bandits who have voluntarily laid down their arms. The initiative, he explained, provides livestock and vocational support to help them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.
He further highlighted Katsina’s ongoing partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jibia, where 152 housing units, vocational centres, and livelihood support programmes are being developed for displaced families.
“The SOLID project perfectly aligns with our vision,” he said. “We want it to reflect the real needs of our people, focusing on welfare, recovery, and economic empowerment rather than weapons.”
Governor Radda emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of insecurity such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunity. “If we strengthen rural productivity and empower our farmers, who make up more than 90 percent of our population, peace will naturally take hold,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Christopher Mays Johnson, the World Bank Task Team Leader, commended Katsina State for its proactive readiness toward the project’s implementation.
He revealed that the SOLID project was approved by the World Bank Board on August 7, 2025, while the loan signing process through the Federal Ministry of Finance was already underway.
Mr. Johnson also announced plans for an initial coordination mission in mid-November 2025, during which all participating states will formally commence project implementation. “Katsina has demonstrated strong readiness and commitment, and the Bank is fully prepared to support both the State and the Federal Government in delivering this vital programme,” he said.
He explained that each participating state would establish a Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) focusing on infrastructure, livelihoods, and social development, while a third component of the programme would be managed at the federal level. He assured that the minor pending readiness issues would not delay the project’s start.
Also speaking, Dr. Mustapha Shehu commended the World Bank for its continued engagement and support, noting that under Governor Radda’s leadership, the State had already approved a substantial sum as counterpart funding for the SOLID project and had domesticated its State IDP Policy.
He praised the Governor’s inclusive governance model, particularly his approval of 30% women participation in all State development initiatives, and his preference for a host-community resettlement approach over camp-based living. “This model ensures that displaced persons own permanent homes, not temporary shelters,” he emphasized.
In her remarks, Hajiya Zarah Goni Imam, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, lauded Katsina’s strong leadership and ownership of the SOLID initiative.
She urged continued collaboration to ensure the project’s timely delivery within its 20-month implementation window, noting that “Katsina has shown remarkable commitment, and we are determined to ensure this phase achieves tangible results.”
The World Bank team pledged to sustain its partnership with the Katsina State Government to ensure that the SOLID project delivers lasting social and economic recovery for displaced persons and their host communities.
Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed
Chief Press Secretary to the Katsina State Governor
7 October, 2025
