BY  HASSAN BAKO

ALBABA QUATER, S KATSINA

World over urban cities serve as avenues of beehive of activities from occupants.Such activities ranges from trading transportation academic pursuits and so on and. so forth.

Equally in such urban centers one finds that managing increasing population demanded a multifaceted and dynamic approach by government and administrations that emerges from time_ time . No wonder that continued rise in population birthed so many problems such as springing of slumps shanties through unprofessional and utter neglect of rules and regulations of buildings and erection of structures provided by constituted authorities either at the center middle or lower strata.

And when that happens unforseen disasters like flooding erosion and outbreaks pose serious threats to inhabitants and sometimes could lead to lost of properties   by the affected individuals or persons and some without fault of theirs thus leaving the burden of rebuilding or restoring the losses incurred to government and often amounting to billions of naira

However in a drastic move to seek redress to such problems the current Katsina state administration of Governor Malam Dikko U mar Rada PhD decided to take the bull by the horn through em barking  on serious and gagatuan urban renewal from 2023 to date. In fact the first major move started within the Katsina state capital where in an effort to bolster the socio,_ economic well being of people some selected roads were dualized and provided with solar powered street lights. Notably the KO far Work_ KO far Guga road whose project has since been formally commissioned and put to use for the affected communities and visitors alike. Similarly the WTC round about to KO far Marusa project is progressing steadily and soon the road would be put to fruitation and all to the delight of and admiration of people.

Interestingly too there are plans to dualize other significant roads within Katsina metropolis in a move to boost the socioeconomic status of people as well as decongest the roads and enhance easy traffic flow for intra town movement of people as well as goods and services.Indeed governor Dikko Rada, s urban renewal did not end in the state capital alone in fact similar project's are currently ongoing in Funtua Malumfashi  Daura and Dutsinma and surely as time roll on other local government will definitely got attention from the government . But then of what gains do the current urban renewal one might say? Well certainly the gains are multiple as those who ceded their structures for expansion of the project's were justifiably compensated as many didn't raise alarm. On what they got as payments more so the left over structures were now been convrted into shops. Also the provision of solar powered security would improve on the security within the benifittng communities. Attached to this was the fact that menial jobs were made available to teeming and willing youths looking for the means of lively hood on daily basis. Such projects also help in reducing societal ills among youth as they may not have time to be engaging in drugs abuse and addiction stealings and to some extent armed robbery and banditry among other s.Therefore. governor Malam Dikko U mar Raddas administration deserve commendation on its urban renewal initiative and as former military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida averred " History Never Forgive Indecision But it Forgive One for Taking a Wrong Decision.

Bako was a former editor at Katsina state redio now writes for Katsina times