Katsina Times – September 28, 2025
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and food insecurity across the state, unveiling new measures to strengthen nutrition and food supply systems.
Governor Radda disclosed that a food distribution programme has been designed to reach 120 vulnerable households in every ward, while 35,000 discharged children will receive targeted nutritional support. He also directed the Ministry of Health to establish and expand nutrition centres across all local governments, drawing from the model of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) facilities.
In addition, the Governor announced approval for a Tom Brown production factory in Katsina, alongside plans for a larger food processing plant to boost local production and reduce dependency.
The Governor made the remarks on Sunday while hosting a delegation of French parliamentarians and the Global MSF team, led by Mr. Stéphane Doyon, Head of Operations from Paris, at Government House, Katsina.
Earlier, the delegation visited the Turai Yar’Adua Centre, where they interacted with health workers and reviewed existing interventions. They were accompanied by senior state officials, including the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Board, Malam Mustapha Shehu, the Honourable Commissioner of Health, and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
Governor Radda described the food and nutrition crisis as “very serious,” blaming over a decade of insecurity in frontline local governments for crippling farming activities, reducing food availability, and worsening child malnutrition.
“What I personally saw during my visits to the affected centres was mind-boggling. It underscored the urgency of collective action,” the Governor said.
He commended MSF for its report on malnutrition, which he said served as a “wake-up call” for government and spurred the establishment of a high-level committee to work with international partners on both short- and long-term solutions.
While stressing that the state government bears primary responsibility, Radda appealed for continued support from development partners.
“Whatever support we receive—financial, technical, or material—will only complement what we are already doing with our limited resources. We are committed to sustainable solutions,” he added.
The Governor expressed optimism that with improved security in rural areas, farmlands would reopen, enabling sustainable food production.
On their part, Mr. Doyon and the French parliamentarians commended Katsina State’s proactive response, citing food distribution programmes, farm input support, and peace-building efforts. They pledged to support the state’s initiatives through technical collaboration and advocacy in the French Parliament.
