DIPLOMAN TIMES

Katsina State has commissioned three major urban road projects and launched new public transport initiatives, including hybrid buses and electric tricycles, as the state advances its urban mobility and infrastructure programme.

Katsina State has marked a major step in its urban connectivity and mobility programme with the commissioning of three major road projects and the launch of modern public transportation services in the state. Vice-President Kashim Shettima attended the commissioning, which formed part of the administration's wider urban renewal and sustainable development programme.

The three projects cover approximately 4.8 kilometres, 2.4 kilometres and 4 kilometres respectively. Governor Dikko Radda said they were designed as part of an integrated road network intended to improve traffic circulation, reduce travel time and strengthen connectivity across Katsina metropolis. He said similar interventions were being extended to Daura and Funtua while rural connectivity projects continued elsewhere in the state.

The state government reported that more than 240 kilometres of urban and rural roads had been covered through ongoing interventions. Alongside the road projects, the administration launched 32 hybrid buses using electric, diesel and CNG technologies for deployment in Katsina, Daura and Funtua. Terminals and maintenance facilities are associated with the bus deployment, while 40 modern bus stops with Wi-Fi and solar inverter systems are being provided.

The government also launched 200 electric tricycles as part of a broader programme targeting 500 electric Keke EVs across Katsina State. The administration linked the electric mobility programme to technical training, vehicle maintenance, charging infrastructure, employment and opportunities for businesses within the emerging electric transport ecosystem.

Radda said the overall objective was to improve movement, support commerce and agriculture and strengthen access to schools and healthcare. He described the approach as moving from energy transition toward economic transformation and said infrastructure would need to be properly maintained, efficiently managed and responsibly used after commissioning.