From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has announced an initial ₦5 billion allocation to address climate change challenges through a Green Investment Fund.
Speaking at the Katsina State Climate Action and Green Investment Summit in Abuja, Radda pledged to dedicate 30% of the state’s annual budget to climate-resilient infrastructure. He stated, “Oftentimes, I travel through our rural communities, and I see firsthand how climate change has altered the farming activities of our people. Where once there were thriving farms and succulent agricultural produce, now there are encroaching sands. Where once there were reliable rains, now there is uncertainty.”
To combat water scarcity, Radda highlighted the construction of 120 solar-powered boreholes worth ₦2.4 billion, with 60 more underway, saying, “This means more water for farmers, more food on our tables, and more income for families.”
The state also invested ₦1.4 billion in desilting drainages and ₦5.9 billion in rainwater harvesting structures to support irrigation. The Green Investment Fund aims to de-risk projects and attract private capital, with Radda noting, “Secondly, we will allocate 30% of our annual budget to climate-resilient infrastructure and establish a Green Investment Fund to de-risk projects and accelerate implementation, with an initial capitalisation of N5 billion.”
United Nations Resident Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall commended Katsina’s initiative, stating, “We must act now. Global investment in clean energy is at record levels. Countries with clear climate strategies are attracting capital, technology, and innovation. Katsina State can lead the way in Nigeria.”
He urged sub-national climate plans to support Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) for COP 30 in Brazil.