Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to tackling malnutrition and food insecurity across the state.
Governor Radda explained that the state government has designed a food distribution programme targeting 120 vulnerable households in each ward, with special priority given to 35,000 discharged children. He further directed the Ministry of Health to establish and strengthen nutrition centres across all local governments, adopting best practices from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) facilities. The Governor also announced the approval of a Tom Brown production factory in Katsina, with plans for a larger food processing plant to boost local food production.
He made this known on Saturday while receiving a delegation of French parliamentarians and the Global MSF Team, led by Mr. Stéphane Doyon, Head of Operations from Paris. The delegation was in Katsina to explore areas of partnership aimed at improving nutrition and food security in the state.
The French parliamentarians and Global MSF Team began their mission with a visit to the Turai Yar’Adua Centre, where they interacted with medical staff and observed interventions already in place. They later paid a courtesy call on Governor Radda at Government House, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB), Malam Mustapha Shehu, the Executive Director for Development Partners, the Honourable Commissioner of Health, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the ANRiN Project Coordinator.
In his remarks, Governor Radda described the situation of malnutrition as “very serious,” noting that insecurity in frontline local governments for over a decade had crippled farmlands, reduced food availability, and worsened child nutrition.
“What I personally saw during my visits to the affected centres was mind-boggling, and it underscored the urgency of collective action,” the Governor said.
He commended Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for its ongoing work in Katsina State, stressing that the government viewed the MSF report on malnutrition not as an attack but as a wake-up call.
“It opened our eyes to the real scale of the problem, which was greater than initially thought. Immediately, we set up a committee to work with MSF and other partners to propose both short- and long-term solutions,” he explained.
The Governor emphasized the importance of partnerships, noting that while the government holds the primary responsibility, international support is vital to achieving results.
“Whatever support we receive—whether financial, technical, or material—will only complement what we are already doing with our limited resources. We are committed to sustainable solutions,” he assured.
Governor Radda also expressed optimism that with the gradual return of peace to rural communities, more farmlands will become accessible, giving hope for sustainable food production and reduced food insecurity.
“I sincerely thank you for visiting Katsina State and for prioritizing our people in your mission. We look forward to working with you to bring lasting solutions to malnutrition and food insecurity,” he concluded.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Stéphane Doyon and the French parliamentarians commended the Katsina State Government’s swift measures, including mass food distribution, provision of farm inputs, and peace-building initiatives that are helping farmers return to their fields.
They pledged the support of the French Parliament in Katsina’s efforts to combat malnutrition and strengthen food security.