Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, allocated 600 hectares of land to relocate displaced communities and support 250,000 IDPs.
The initiative aims to restore dignity and livelihoods for displaced persons, offering them a chance to rebuild their lives.
Radda announced the plan during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Katsina State House.
The MoU involved the state government, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, TGI Group, and UNHCR Nigeria representatives.
This partnership, the first of its kind in Nigeria, combines public, private, and international efforts for displaced communities.
The project, Livelihoods for Improved Futures for Everyone (LIFE), targets 600 displaced and host community families in Katsina.
Governor Radda reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring safe returns or providing secure alternatives for displaced communities.
He emphasized that the project would stabilize families, enabling dry-season farming, boosting employment, and enhancing food security.
The Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group will provide technical support, agricultural inputs, and zero-interest loans to farmers.
Additionally, TGI has committed to purchasing produce from participating farmers, ensuring stable markets for their harvests.
TGI Vice Chairman, Farouk Gumel, highlighted rural inclusion’s role in national economic development and food security.
“This initiative strengthens food security and promotes dignified reintegration of displaced persons,” Gumel stated during his address.
UNHCR will install solar-powered irrigation systems, enabling sustainable dry-season farming managed by local communities.
Arjun Jain of UNHCR stressed the need for urgent solutions, citing the growing number of displaced persons in Nigeria.
“We are pleased Nigeria’s governments and private sector are leading efforts for sustainable displacement solutions,” Jain said.
Stakeholders believe the LIFE project will serve as a model for addressing displacement challenges across Nigeria in the future.
