Katsina Govt. inaugurates EU-funded school; Debunks school closure claims
By Abbas Bamalli
Jibia (Katsina State), Jan. 28, 2026
The Katsina State Government has inaugurated a rehabilitated public primary school in Daga community, Jibia Local Government Area, funded by the humanitarian organisation, Mercy Corps.
The inauguration on Tuesday in Daga village underscored efforts to promote education, peace and community resilience in conflict-affected parts of the state.
The project was executed under the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR) Programme, an initiative funded by the European Union (EU).
This is as the State Government, also on Tuesday, dismissed social media claims that over 60 per cent of secondary schools in the state were closed due to insecurity.
The denial was contained in a statement issued in Katsina by Sani Danjuma-Suleiman, spokesperson, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
He said the claim was false, misleading and did not reflect the true position of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Inaugurating the school in Daga, the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal-Jobe, said the project was among 26 interventions under the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconstruction framework, launched in 2025.
Represented by Deputy Chief of Staff, Mukhtar Aliyu-Saulawa, Lawal-Jobe said 25 projects had already been completed and commissioned statewide.
He noted that the Daga Primary School rehabilitation marked the final project under the framework, stressing that “The community must take full ownership of this facility, because sustainability depends largely on local commitment.”
He urged parents and guardians to prioritise education, insisting that “education remains the foundation for development and lasting peace”.
Lawal-Jobe said similar projects were implemented in Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Sabuwa, Faskari and Dandume, adding that interventions included classrooms, potable water, veterinary services, solar power and other critical infrastructure.
Senior Programme Manager of Mercy Corps, Philip Ikita, described CPCRR as a continuation of peacebuilding efforts addressing root causes of conflict.
Ikita said the programme operates in 48 communities across Katsina and Zamfara, strengthening social cohesion, resilience and socio-economic recovery.
He explained that the project is implemented by IOM, in partnership with Mercy Corps and the Centre for Democracy and Development.
Speaking further on the issue of schools closure Danjuma-Suleiman said:
“For the avoidance of doubt, only two secondary schools were officially closed due to security concerns.”
He gave the names of the closed schools as Government Day Secondary School Shimfida and GDSS Gangara, both in Jibia Local Government Area.
“Government Girls’ Unity College Jibia, GGSS Shena, GGSS Rimaye and GGSS Dutsin-Safe were temporarily relocated to W.T.C. Katsina.
“The relocation followed a new government policy merging selected boarding schools for more effective and efficient management,” he said.
The ministry, therefore, urged the general public to disregard what it described as false and unfounded claims circulating online.
“We remain fully committed to ensuring safety, stability and quality education across Katsina State,” the spokesman said, adding that the ministry would continue to provide a secure, conducive and transformative learning environment for all students.
