The Katsina State Government has clarified details surrounding the ₦155 billion agro-residential housing project planned for Kankia and Charanchi Local Government Areas, insisting that the initiative will deliver affordable housing, employment, and sustainable agricultural livelihoods for residents across the state.
Addressing growing public interest in the project, the Head of Service, Alhaji Falalu Bawale, said the programme is structured as a self-financing development model that places no direct financial burden on the state government.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday at the State Secretariat Complex in Katsina, Bawale explained that the project, being implemented in partnership with COSMOS Residential City Nigeria Limited, combines housing development with agriculture and aquaculture to ensure long-term economic sustainability.
How the project will work
Under the agreement, the Katsina State Government will provide land and guarantees, while the private consultant will finance, construct, and manage the project. According to Bawale, the consultant will recover its investment through the sale of agricultural produce generated within the housing estates.
“The project is a game-changer. The consultant recovers its investment from agricultural output, not from state funds,” he said.
Participants selected for the programme will undergo training in agriculture and aquaculture and will receive a monthly stipend of ₦200,000 during the implementation phase.
Bawale added that beneficiaries will be drawn from all 34 local government areas of the state, ensuring broad inclusion and equitable access to the programme.
Housing and agriculture combined
The project follows the signing of a ₦155 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Katsina State Government and COSMOS Residential City Nigeria Limited on January 22, 2026.
Under the agreement, 2,500 housing units will be constructed in Kankia Local Government Area, while 1,000 units will be developed in Radda community, Charanchi Local Government Area, bringing the total to 3,500 homes.
Governor Dikko Radda, while signing the MoU at the Government House in Katsina, described the initiative as an innovative agro-residential model designed to address housing shortages, unemployment, and food security simultaneously.
Each housing unit will feature backyard fish farming and vegetable gardens, enabling residents to generate income while meeting household food needs.
Economic impact and youth empowerment
The General Manager of the Katsina State Housing Authority, Aliyu Kurfi, praised the project, noting that it would create thousands of jobs, particularly for young people.
He also commended Governor Radda and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, for supporting a model that blends housing delivery with economic empowerment.
According to the state government, beneficiaries will include unemployed youths and low-income households, including individuals without formal education but with practical farming or vocational skills.
Ownership structure and savings plan
Governor Radda explained that participants are expected to earn up to ₦200,000 monthly, from which they will make mandatory savings of between ₦50,000 and ₦70,000.
These savings will gradually offset investors’ costs, after which beneficiaries will gain full ownership of both the houses and farm assets within three to five years.
“This approach ensures dignity, ownership, and sustainability, rather than dependency,” the governor said.
Project timeline
The governor disclosed that land for the project has already been allocated in both Kankia and Radda communities, while COSMOS Residential City Nigeria Limited has committed to mobilising to site within 10 days.
Construction is expected to be completed within 16 months to two years, subject to weather and logistical conditions.
State officials say the initiative aligns with Katsina’s broader development strategy focused on housing delivery, youth employment, and agricultural productivity.
