The state that learned to earn

By   Zainab Ibrahim Rafindadi
 
For too long, the story of how Nigerian states have developed has been told as one of dependence. Budgets are made with anxious eyes on Abuja. Hopes rise or fall with monthly payments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee. Public planning depends on oil prices, exchange rates, politics, and changes in the country’s income. In this system, states act more as offices waiting for money than as drivers of development.
Katsina State, however, is beginning to chart a new path forward, breaking away from this pattern of dependency.
Its recent revenue growth isn’t just a financial gain; it sends a message about leadership. It shows that with di...