...As state partners with LexisNexis for 15-year legal digitisation project
In a landmark move to modernise the state’s legal framework, Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, on Thursday launched a comprehensive legal reform initiative aimed at consolidating, harmonising, and digitising all laws of the state.
The ceremony, held at the Government House in Katsina, marked a significant step toward improving legal transparency, accessibility, and institutional efficiency in the state.
Governor Radda, while commending the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Fadila Muhammad Dikko, for leading the reform process, emphasised the importance of streamlining scattered legal amendments from previous years into a unified and digital platform.
“This is a very important day for Katsina State,” the Governor declared. “We must appreciate the Ministry of Justice for initiating this reform. Our legal system is currently fragmented—with laws from 2020, 2022, and 2023 standing separately—which opens the door to confusion and selective interpretation.”
He noted that digitising and consolidating these laws will not only enhance justice delivery but also promote investor confidence, reduce bureaucratic delays, and serve as a resource hub for citizens, legal practitioners, and researchers alike.
“We are opening our legal system to the world. Anyone—investors, public officials, or researchers—can now access the state’s laws online with ease,” the Governor added.
Radda also lauded Dr. Sirajo Yakubu Batagarawa, Principal Partner at Sirajo Yakubu & Co., for representing the state in China and receiving a prestigious award on behalf of the administration, as well as for facilitating the legal reform agreement.
In her address, Attorney General Barr. Fadila Dikko stated that this is the first time in Katsina’s history that a full consolidation and update of all state laws is being undertaken, describing it as a move that will “eliminate outdated statutes and build a modern legal foundation for progress.”
During the event, Governor Radda signed several newly passed bills into law, including:
Two key agreements were also signed: a consultancy contract with Sirajo Yakubu & Co. to publish the reformed laws in both hardcopy and digital formats, and a partnership with global legal publisher LexisNexis.
Sirajo Yakubu, the lead consultant, revealed that LexisNexis will host the electronic version of the laws for 15 years at no additional cost. The platform will be continuously updated to reflect new and amended laws, ensuring a real-time, consolidated legal system for the state.
The high-level event was attended by senior government officials, members of the judiciary, legal professionals, lawmakers, and development consultants.
