Katsina state government has concluded plans to distribute over N2.6 billion for the rehabilitation of 13,315 affected victims of banditry and other negative vices in the 11 frontline local government areas of the state.
The Special Adviser on Higher Education, Dr Bashir Usman Ruwangodiya, stated this while briefing newsmen on the resolutions reached at the 5th State Executive Council meeting in Katsina on Wednesday.
According to him, the decision followed the outcome of a committee headed by the state deputy governor, QS Yakubu to identify victims affected with a view to giving succour to them.
He said the committee during the course of its assignment, identified 13,315 victims of banditry in the affected council areas.
“Out of the number, 10,712 orphans and 2,603 widows were identified in the 93 wards of the council areas,” he said.
He said the orphans between 0-18 years would be provided with basic education needs, from primary to secondary levels, while the widows would receive entrepreneurial skill training to improve their standard of living.
The state Finance Commissioner, Alhaji Kasim Muttalab, on his part expressed the readiness of the state government to access a N1 billion loan from a commercial bank to complete the ongoing Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene programmes in the state.
He however maintained that discussions are ongoing between the state government and the bank to ensure the completion of the programme before the end of the tenure of the administration.
