Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has pledged to collaborate with Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse, who represents Funtua Senatorial District in Katsina State, to push for the creation of a new state, “Karaduwa.”
Jibrin emphasized that the establishment of new states would drive development and economic prosperity for the people of Katsina.
“I will work alongside my brother, Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse, to ensure the creation of Karaduwa State in Katsina. The demand by the Karaduwa people is valid—they are an agrarian community with all the necessary requirements for statehood. While it may be challenging, it is achievable, and I fully support them,” he stated.
He made these remarks in Funtua during the official launch of Ramadan food distribution and empowerment programs for thousands of women and youths, an initiative spearheaded by Senator Dan-Dutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, urged beneficiaries not to sell the distributed items and called for continued prayers for the government, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
Represented by his deputy, Hon. Faruk Jobe, Radda highlighted key achievements of his administration across various sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and the economy.
“We have invested ₦120 billion in education, building 152 new secondary schools and renovating primary schools. Additionally, we have awarded scholarships to 109 underprivileged students to study medicine, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology abroad,” the governor revealed.
Senator Dan-Dutse reaffirmed his commitment to progress despite economic and security challenges.
“In terms of infrastructure, we have facilitated the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Funtua. The Katsina State Government has already committed ₦3.5 billion to the project, and despite its exclusion from the 2024 budget, we fought to have it reinstated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets,” he explained.
He noted that a vice-chancellor and governing council had been appointed, and recruitment efforts for staff were underway.
“For the 2025 budget, ₦5.7 billion has been allocated for capital projects at the university, along with a ₦5 billion TETFund takeoff grant and an additional ₦2.9 billion in regular intervention funds,” he added.
Dan-Dutse described the university as a crucial step toward advancing education not only in Katsina State but across the Northwest, as Funtua serves as a strategic hub connecting Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa.
As part of the Ramadan empowerment initiative, essential supplies were distributed across the 117 polling units in 11 local government areas (LGAs) of the senatorial district.
The items included:
– 8 trailers carrying 5,439 bags of fertilizer
– 4 trailers loaded with 3,795 bags of rice
– 1 trailer containing 1,100 bags of maize powder
– 100 tricycles
– 350 motorcycles
– 3,795 bags of maize
– 384 sewing machines
– 110 grinding machines
– 1,650 assorted rice seedlings
– 3,000 cartons of bottled water
– 11,700 bags of table water
The benefiting LGAs were Bakori, Musawa, Kankara, Kafur, Faskari, Matazu, Danja, Funtua, Dandume, Malumfashi, and Sabuwa.
