KATSINA — In a bold move to confront rapid urban growth and secure the future of Katsina State’s major cities, Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda on Wednesday unveiled comprehensive 15-Year Masterplans for Katsina, Daura, and Funtua.
The unveiling marks what the governor described as “a decisive step toward building modern, organised, and economically vibrant urban centres” across the state.
With Katsina’s population projected to surge from about 12 million to over 21 million by 2040, the governor warned that pressure on land, housing, roads, water systems, and public services would intensify if proactive planning is not enforced.
“Without proper planning, such growth can lead to congestion, informal settlements, environmental degradation, and rising social pressures,” he said.
The masterplans provide a structured framework to guide land use, transportation networks, housing expansion, commercial districts, infrastructure development, and environmental protection.
According to the governor, the objective is clear: ensure development does not occur by chance, but by deliberate design.
“These plans will create cities that support business, attract investment, generate employment, and improve the quality of life of our people,” he stated.
Urban development experts have long warned that Nigeria’s fast-growing cities require long-term strategies to avoid the pitfalls of unregulated expansion. Katsina State’s new roadmap aims to anticipate growth rather than react to crises.
Legal Backing Takes Immediate Effect
To translate vision into action, Governor Radda signed the Katsina State Urban Planning Areas Order, an Executive Order that takes immediate effect.
The Order provides legal authority for relevant agencies to designate, regulate, and effectively manage planning areas, ensuring that the masterplans are enforceable rather than advisory.
With legal backing, budgetary provisions, and stakeholder engagement, the government says implementation will be systematic and accountable.
The governor stressed that the ultimate goal is intergenerational impact.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that the next generation inherits well-planned communities, not unregulated expansion,” he said.
Observers describe the initiative as one of the most ambitious urban planning reforms in the state’s recent history — a proactive attempt to shape growth before it overwhelms infrastructure.
As the state embraces structured urban transformation, residents and investors alike will be watching closely to see how the blueprint reshapes the skylines of Katsina, Daura, and Funtua in the years ahead.
Ramadan Kareem.
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