The Katsina Consultative Forum (KCF), a team of concerned elders, says it has completed arrangements to host stakeholder dialogue to address the severe poverty situation in the state.

The forum’s chairman, Aminu Danmusa, made this known during a press briefing in Katsina on Wednesday.

Mr Danmusa said the dialogue scheduled for December 29 became necessary for a united front in tackling poverty in its multifaceted forms.

He said poverty has far-reaching implications for society as it is the root of many evils and crimes.

According to him, poverty, insecurity, and related issues remained critical topics in public and private discourse in Nigeria.

“According to the 2022 Report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) shows that approximately 63 per cent of the population live in multidimensional poverty.

“This translates to 63 out of every 100 Nigerians experiencing significant deprivation in overall living standards.

“Northern Nigeria bears the brunt of this reality, with Katsina State standing out as one of the most severely affected,” he said.

Mr Danmusa pointed out that in 2020, the NBS reported a poverty headcount rate of 74.1 per cent for Katsina, reflecting the dire situation in the state.

“This pervasive poverty contributes immensely to other societal challenges, including insecurity, illiteracy, and rising cases of drug and substance abuse.

“The Katsina State government continues to implement a range of measures and initiatives to improve the well-being of its citizens. However, the scale and complexity of these challenges require a collective approach,” he said.

He said complementary inputs from citizens, corporate organisations, and non-governmental entities became necessary to develop innovative and holistic solutions tailored to the state’s unique developmental needs.

According to the forum’s chairman, the KCF 2024 annual dialogue, which is the second, is a step towards that direction.

Mr Danmusa said that KCF would bring together intellectuals, professionals, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to identify sustainable long-term solutions to the critical issues confronting the state.

He said that at the end of the dialogue, a comprehensive communique would be developed, specifying actionable recommendations for every stakeholder in line with their expertise and capacity to drive progress and betterment of Katsina and its people.

The forum had, in 2023, organised a dialogue to address the menace of drug abuse in the state.

(NAN)