By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday brought a wave of major government activities to Katsina State, flagging off a fresh women’s empowerment initiative, commissioning key road projects and unveiling new buses and electric tricycles as part of efforts to strengthen livelihoods and transportation across the state.
The centrepiece of the visit was the launch of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), an initiative designed to provide financial support to women’s groups and small-business owners and help them expand their enterprises and become more economically independent.
The launch took place at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, where the Vice President joined state officials and beneficiaries for the formal commencement of the programme in Katsina.
The initiative is being implemented through a partnership between the World Bank and the Katsina State Government. It was initially designed to cover women in Katsina, Daura and Funtua, targeting slightly more than 50,000 beneficiaries.
However, the programme has since been expanded to cover all 34 local government areas of the state, significantly widening its reach. More than 800,000 women are expected to benefit as implementation gathers pace in the coming months.
The expansion is expected to provide thousands of women with greater access to capital and economic opportunities, particularly those operating small and informal businesses that often struggle to obtain conventional financing.
But the women’s empowerment programme was only one part of the Vice President’s packed itinerary.
Shettima, who arrived Katsina through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, also commissioned three major road projects executed by the administration of Governor Dikko Radda.
Among the projects commissioned were the 4.80-kilometre dualised Kofar Sauri–Central Mosque Roundabout Road, the 2.40-kilometre dualised Central Police Station Junction–Kofar Kaura Underpass Road and the newly constructed 4-kilometre Filin Polo–Ring Road.
The projects form part of the state government’s broader infrastructure drive aimed at improving traffic flow, easing movement within the metropolis and strengthening connectivity between key parts of Katsina.
Upon his arrival, Shettima was received by Governor Radda, alongside the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, members of the State Executive Council and other senior government officials.
He also inspected a quarter guard mounted in his honour by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force before proceeding with the day's engagements.
The Vice President later unveiled another component of the state government's development programme with the launch of 30 compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles under Phase I of an initiative aimed at improving mass transportation.
The introduction of the vehicles is expected to provide residents with additional transportation options while supporting efforts to reduce dependence on conventional petrol-powered public transport.
The Vice President's visit also took on a political dimension as he received defectors into the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a gathering at Peoples Square within the Katsina Government House.
The political event added another layer to an already busy visit, coming as political activities continue to build ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Shettima, who remained in Katsina as of this afternoon, is expected to return to Abuja later on Sunday after concluding his engagements in the state.
The Vice President’s visit ultimately combined economic empowerment, infrastructure development, transportation reform and political mobilisation, giving Katsina a busy day of high-profile government and political activities.
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