Governor Dikko Radda inaugurated two new stabilisation centres in Daura and Baure Local Government Areas on Sunday, alongside 60 Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) sites across 12 LGAs in Katsina State. The centres will offer free treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition, while the OTP sites aim to detect and treat malnutrition early at the community level. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Baure, Radda stated the initiative demonstrates his administration's commitment to healthcare access, particularly in underserved communities. He referenced the November 2025 high-level nutrition conference in Abuja, where Katsina received a £10 million pledge from the European Union to combat malnutrition. Radda also announced a mobile court to prosecute anyone found diverting or selling Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), warning there would be no exceptions. Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Lawal Rabe, disclosed that the governor approved ₦700 million as counterpart funding for the World Bank's ANRIN 20 programme. He added that primary healthcare centres in Zango, Baure, Mai'adua and Dandume are being upgraded to general hospitals. Ruqayya Usman, chairperson of the State Nutrition Committee, said over 600 community volunteers and 300 health workers have been trained, and accountability systems are now in place to ensure supplies reach beneficiaries.
Dikko Radda is betting political capital on a visible crackdown over RUTF misuse, not just expanding healthcare infrastructure. His decision to deploy a mobile court signals a shift from typical policy announcements to performative enforcement, targeting both corrupt actors and public skepticism about government aid. The threat of prosecution for buyers and sellers alike suggests he views diversion of supplies as a systemic threat to legitimacy, not merely a logistical failure.
This move follows a £10 million EU pledge secured in November 2025, tying tangible foreign investment to accountability. By pairing the launch of 60 OTP sites and two stabilisation centres with strict oversight rhetoric, Radda positions himself as both provider and enforcer. The focus on Daura and Baure—areas long neglected in state development plans—adds a layer of political recalibration, especially as malnutrition remains a flashpoint in northern Nigeria's healthcare discourse. The allocation of ₦700 million in counterpart funding for ANRIN 20 further underscores an attempt to align with international benchmarks.
For residents of the 12 LGAs covered, particularly in Funtua, Malumfashi and Kankia, access to early malnutrition treatment could reduce child mortality rates significantly. But the real test lies in whether trained volunteers and new facilities are sustained beyond donor cycles. If RUTF reaches children consistently, the impact could ripple across household economies strained by healthcare costs.
This reflects a growing trend among northern governors: coupling donor-backed social interventions with high-visibility enforcement to build trust. Radda's approach mirrors similar models in Jigawa and Sokoto, where nutrition gains followed strict monitoring. But in Katsina, where insecurity complicates service delivery, success hinges on whether mobile courts and community networks can outpace sabotage.
