Katsina: We diverted infrastructure funds to security agencies, Masari confesses
By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
Outgoing Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, said on Tuesday that his government diverted enormous resources originally earmarked for infrastructural development to fund operations of security agencies over banditry and related criminal acts in the area.
He spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the interchange flyover bridge at the GRA which he noted cost N4.3 billion.
According to him, government in 2015 raised a committee for Urban Renewal Development programme of Katsina, Funtua, Daura, Malumfashi and Dutsinma among other major towns in the state. “But we could not deliver on the scheme because of insecurity in the State which consumed all our resources to security agencies and support to victims of banditry,” he said.
In May 2022, during the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the project, Governor Masari said the government could not fully execute its planned infrastructural development programme due to the persistent insecurity since the coming on board of his administration.
According to him then, “we are not where we should be yet but certainly we are making progress and also that the incoming administration, come May 2023, will continue with this development of the urban renewal programme of our major cities.
“Moreover, in Katsina in particular, a lot of roads need to be done within the city itself to reduce congestion,” the Governor said.
The GRA round about is one of the three multi-billion-naira of Masari administration’s infrastructural projects within the capital.
In the first quarter of 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari while on the official visit to the State, commissioned the other two interchange flyovers at Kofan Kwaya and Kofan Kaura roundabouts which cost the State N5.8 billion.
