Despite Insecurity, Katsina Still Towering Ahead of A’Ibom at 38
In its nearly four decades on Nigeria’s political map, Akwa Ibom has only recently produced a Senate President—former governor Godswill Akpabio. Katsina, its peer, has fared differently. Within the same period, the North-West state has produced two Nigerian leaders: the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007–2010) and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023).
While Akwa Ibom delights in celebrating its creation with pomp and pageantry, Katsina has historically taken a more restrained approach. It only marked its 37th anniversary last year, and that came after sustained calls by some elites who argued that such occasions provide opportunities for sober reflection, stock-taking, and forward planning.
But Katsina’s strength lies not in fanfare but in policy implementation. Whereas Akwa Ibom’s archives are filled with socio-economic blueprints drafted by eminent scholars such as Prof. Akpan Ekpo—many of which remain untouched—Katsina has consistently invested in actionable plans, especially around human capital development.
This year, as Akwa Ibom struggles to keep its much-touted ARISE Agenda on track, Katsina is scaling up skill acquisition initiatives. Driving that agenda is Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who has been challenging young people in the state to look beyond traditional government jobs.
“To succeed today you must acquire additional skills, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset,” Pantami told youths, urging them to embrace innovation in a fast-changing job market shaped by technology and automation. He stressed the need for adaptability, digital competence, and entrepreneurial drive, while also underlining human qualities—empathy, emotional intelligence, and optimism—as indispensable for growth.
On the other hand, voices like that of Prof. Sani Abubakar Lugga, the 5th Waziri of Katsina, have been sounding the alarm over the state’s growing security crisis. Once a beacon of stability and scholarship, Katsina has, in the past eight years, become a frontline victim of banditry and insurgency.
“The responsibility for the security of lives and property does not lie with the people but with the government, particularly the president, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” Lugga declared, criticizing calls for citizens to arm themselves.
He urged Governor Dikko Radda to rally his colleagues across the 36 states and press President Bola Tinubu to act decisively. Lugga has argued that if the current service chiefs cannot restore security, Tinubu should replace them—or, alternatively, amend the constitution to allow states to establish their own police forces. “There is no way an unarmed people can defend themselves against AK-47 rifles,” he warned.
Despite these challenges, Katsina’s historical and developmental trajectory remains remarkable. Descended from ancient dynasties like Daura and Katsina, the state was a hub of scholarship, commerce, and cultural prestige long before independence. Leaders like General Hassan Usman Katsina and Musa Yar’Adua fought tirelessly for its statehood, which became a reality under the Ibrahim Babangida military regime in 1987.
Today, Katsina continues to record gains in education, agriculture, and infrastructure—though under the shadow of insecurity. Akwa Ibom, meanwhile, has gained notoriety for grand but underutilized projects, such as the International Worship Centre and the unoccupied high-rise along Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo.
At 38, the contrast between both states underscores a deeper question: is statehood about monuments and celebrations, or about translating blueprints into tangible progress for the people?