The Katsina State Government has unveiled a new data-driven development plan, signalling a shift towards using credible evidence to guide planning, budgeting and the delivery of programmes across the state.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda, represented by his deputy, Faruk Jobe, made this known on Thursday in Katsina while launching the Katsina State Development Plan, State Social Protection Policy, Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition, State Nutrition Policy, General Household Survey Report and Statistical Yearbook.
The documents were developed by the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning through the Bureau of Statistics.
Radda described the documents as more than policy publications, saying they would serve as practical instruments for shaping Katsina’s development trajectory and improving the welfare of citizens.
He said his administration would make data and planning central pillars of governance, stressing that credible data would enable government to identify areas of need, direct resources appropriately and measure the impact of its interventions.
“Without reliable data, planning becomes speculative. Without planning, development becomes accidental,” the governor said.
According to him, the Katsina State Development Plan provides a strategic blueprint for transforming the state’s economy and improving living conditions, with priority areas including agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, industrialisation, environmental sustainability, digital innovation, security, governance and youth empowerment.
The plan is aligned with the administration’s Building Your Future (BYF) policy framework, the Katsina State Economic Development Strategy, national development frameworks, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
On security, Radda said the situation had improved considerably in several parts of the state through cooperation among the government, security agencies, traditional institutions and local communities.
He said the improvement had enabled many farmers to return to their farms, with agricultural activities resuming in previously affected communities and economic and social activities gradually recovering.
The governor also highlighted the state’s social protection programme, which combines traditional Islamic welfare mechanisms, particularly Zakat and Waqf, with modern social protection approaches.
He disclosed that more than 50,555 beneficiaries had received assistance through the state’s Zakat programme, while more than N1.9 billion had been mobilised to support vulnerable households, strengthen livelihoods and promote social inclusion.
On nutrition, Radda described malnutrition as a major threat to human capital development. He said the state had invested more than N1.7 billion in targeted nutrition interventions and provided N500 million in counterpart funding to attract additional support from development partners.
The interventions, he said, would focus on preventing malnutrition, improving maternal and child nutrition, expanding micronutrient supplementation and strengthening the management of acute malnutrition.
A major component of the launch was the General Household Survey, which covered all 34 local government areas of Katsina State.
The survey generated household-level data on poverty, employment, livelihoods, agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, water and sanitation, social protection and access to basic services.
Radda said the survey would help government move away from assumptions in development planning and ensure that interventions and resources were directed to communities and populations where they were most needed.
“Government will no longer rely solely on assumptions. Development interventions will increasingly be targeted using credible data. Resources will be allocated where they are needed most. Performance will be measured objectively,” he said.
He directed ministries, departments and agencies to align their plans and budgets with the newly launched frameworks and urged local governments to use the survey findings to improve grassroots service delivery.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, said the General Household Survey would provide government with a clearer understanding of the socioeconomic conditions of households across the state.
He said the findings would help identify poor and vulnerable populations and establish the factors affecting their livelihoods, providing a stronger basis for targeting government interventions and ensuring that scarce public resources achieve the greatest possible impact.
The commissioner commended UNICEF and other development partners for their technical and financial support towards the development and dissemination of the strategic documents.
Also speaking, the Chief of the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, represented by Dr Karanveer Singh, Officer-in-Charge, praised Katsina State for its commitment to evidence-based planning, inclusive development and policy reforms.
UNICEF said the launch demonstrated Katsina’s determination to use data and policy to improve outcomes for children, women, families and communities.
The organisation, however, urged the government to move beyond launching and disseminating the documents, stressing that their true value would be measured by how effectively the policies are translated into budgets, programmes, improved service delivery and measurable outcomes.
Representatives of MSF, the International Rescue Committee and the Gates Foundation also commended the state government for its commitment to data-driven development.
