Senator Yar’adua Blends Empowerment, Security Support in N1.59bn Katsina Intervention

Senator Abdul’aziz Musa Yar’adua has launched a N1.59 billion empowerment and welfare programme in Katsina Central, combining economic support for residents with targeted assistance for families affected by insecurity.
The intervention, flagged off on Sunday, May 3, 2026, by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, reflects a growing shift in constituency projects toward blending livelihood support with responses to security challenges at the grassroots.
Rather than focusing on a single sector, the package cuts across transport, education, healthcare, and small-scale enterprise development, with a strong emphasis on vulnerable households in communities impacted by banditry.
Under the scheme, 80 vehicles were distributed to selected stakeholders, alongside five ambulances aimed at strengthening emergency medical response in the district.
To stimulate local businesses, the senator also provided N150 million in cash grants for start-ups and small enterprises, as well as 410 motorcycles to support commercial transport and mobility.
Women and youth beneficiaries received 400 sewing machines, 400 grinding machines, 200 refrigerators, and tricycles, all intended to expand income opportunities and reduce unemployment.
A key security-linked component of the programme was the N10 million support package for spouses of slain Community Watch Corps members, acknowledging the sacrifices of local volunteers engaged in anti-banditry operations.
In the education sector, 100 bicycles were distributed to students in Danmusa Local Government Area to ease the burden of long-distance travel to school, a persistent challenge in rural communities.
Speaking at the flag-off, Senator Yar’adua described the intervention as part of a broader effort to improve livelihoods while also responding to the realities of insecurity affecting everyday life in the state. He also appealed for understanding from constituents, signalling a commitment to strengthen future interventions.
Governor Radda commended the initiative, describing it as a timely complement to government efforts in addressing both economic hardship and security-related vulnerabilities.
The APC State Chairman, Dr. Bishir Gambo Saulawa, also praised the programme, noting that coordinated efforts between elected officials and party structures remain critical to sustaining development and stability in Katsina.