BASIC FACTS ABOUT KATSINA STATE
Katsina State was created out of the defunct Kaduna State on 23rd September,
1987 and like the former Katsina Province of Old Northern Nigeria, the State
comprises Katsina and Daura Emirates. It borders Kaduna State to the south,
Jigawa and Kano States to the east, Zamfara State to the west and shares an
international border with Republic of Niger to the North
It occupies an area of about 24,192 square kilometers, with an estimated
population of about 5.8 million people as per 2006 projection.
Katsina is a mono ethnic and monolingual state and the people are generally
Hausa/Fulani.
The creation of Katsina State in 1987 brought with it the usual increase in the
volume of economic and social activities attendant to a new state.
Major cash crops produced in the state are millet, guinea corn, groundnut, cotton,
maize, beans, rice and wheat. Katsina State is the largest producer of cotton in
Nigeria and livestock production is also a major preoccupation of people in the
state.
The agricultural products of the state provide good raw material base for a variety
of industries such as oil and flour milling, textiles and dairy products.
The largest industrial ventures in the state include Dana Steel Rolling Company,
which produces variety of iron rod, wire of different dimensions. Katsina Flour
Mills which produces Flour, Hamada Carpets, Paint and Chalk industries in all
Local Governments.
There are bright prospects for Katsina State to take its rightful place in industrial
and commercial activities in the country if its natural resources are properly
harnessed.
VEGETATION
The state extends from the tropical grassland known as Sudan Savannah to Arid
Zone in the North. The State is blessed with fair rainfall with the rainy season
longer in the southern part where it lasts for up to six months, while in the
northern part, it usually lasts for five months. This accounts for the decreasing
density of vegetation from south to north.
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POPULATION
Katsina State has a projected population of 6 million people (5.8 million as per the
2006 census).
OCCUPATION
About 95% of the state population is engaged in subsistence agriculture namely:
farming and animal rearing. Both food and cash crops are produced in the state.
During the dry season, people engage in irrigation farming in fadama areas and
along river basins. Animals reared include cattle, sheep and goats.
CLIMATE
Katsina State as earlier indicated has two climatic seasons, namely dry and rainy
seasons.
The rainy season which lasts for five months covers the period between May and
September while the dry season covers about seven months of the year between
October and April. The dry season is usually accompanied by the dry harmatan
winds with lower temperatures.
The state has an average temperature of between 21oC and 30oC. Due to its
border with the Sahelian zone, the state vegetation density reduces from the
southern part of the state to the northern part.
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
There are trunk-A roads in the length and breadth of the State which ensures
easy access to all parts of the State. Goods produced easily reach their
destinations. Government has equally introduced bus services to supplement the
efforts of the private transporters. It is pertinent to state that all agricultural
production areas in the state are adequately linked with road networks. Road
networks in the State also cover other parts of the country as well as
neighbouring Niger Republic.
Katsina State has an International Airport. There is also railway link from Zaria in
Kaduna State to Funtua and stretching up to Kauran Namoda in Zamfara State.
There are modern post and telecommunication offices in many parts of the State
established to provide efficient postal services, internet access and mobile
communication. To date, virtually all the Local Governments in the State are
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covered by Global Mobile Satellite (GSM) services. There are also courier
services in the State.
POWER
Electricity is the major source of power in the State. The Power Holding
Company has connected all major towns and villages to the National Grid.
Presently, over 45 (Forty Five) towns are enjoying electricity in the State through
the National Grid. The Federal Government is currently installing a 10 Mega Watt
Wind Mill Plant while the State Government is in the process of constructing two
Solar Power Farms of 30 Mega Watt and 20 Mega Watt respectively, all in the
effort to augment electricity power to the State.
AVAILABILITY OF LABOUR
Both skilled and unskilled labour is readily available in the State. Labour as a
factor of production is not in anyway a problem to prospective investors.
AVAILABILITY OF WATER
Efforts are being made by the State Government to provide adequate portable
water to all parts of the State for both domestic and industrial uses. The source
of water supply is mostly through dams and boreholes. Existing dams include
Ajiwa, Mairuwa, Zobe, Malumfashi and Jibia. Plans have reached advanced
stage of completion to boost the water supply in the State for consumption and
irrigation purposes. This is through the ongoing multi-state water project. Under
this, the Zobe, Ajiwa and Jibia dams will supply water for both consumption and
irrigation purposes to many parts of the State as well as for industrial usage. The
Jibia irrigation has commenced with extended area of arable land.
LABOUR MARKETS
There are several local markets, some of which are International because of their
location and facility trade and exchange. These markets are spread through the
length and breadth of the State. Prominent among these markets are:
i. Katsina-Dubai International Market
ii. Katsina Central Market
iii. Mai’adua in Mai’adua Local Government (International)
iv. Jibia (International)
v. Charanchi in Charanchi Local Government
vi. Yar Gamji
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vii. Dutsinma
viii. Kafur
ix. Bakori
x. Yargoje
xi. Dandume
xii. Rimaye
xiii. Dayi
xiv. Kankara
xv. Sheme in Faskari Local Government
xvi. Katsina Shopping Mall
Katsina State has the following MDA and their Federal counterpart that facilitate
investments:
i. Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Tourism (MOCIT)
ii. Katsina State Investment and Property Development Company Limited
(KIPDECO)
iii. Ministry of Lands and Surveys
iv. Department of Small and Medium Enterprises
v. Department of Economic Affairs
vi. Katsina State Economic Empowerment Directorate (KASEED)
vii. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria
(SMEDAN)
Katsina State has a Container Dry Port one out of six in the Federation, located at
Funtua.
The State provides the following as basic incentives for its local entrepreneurs as
well as investors from any where:
i. Micro and Small Scale Credit Scheme (loan to setup small scale
industries)
ii. Training in Business Apprenticeship
iii. Provision of plots within the industrial area
iv. Provision of basic infrastructural facilities
v. Reduction of amount charged on consent to Mortgage land to the barest
minimum.
vi. Approval for the processing and granting of Certificate of Occupancy (C of
O) for industrial purpose within a period of 30 days
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vii. Patronage where Government and its agencies purchase products of
some companies operating in the State
viii. 5-year tax holiday for new industries