The interlinkages between water, energy, and food systems collectively known as the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus represent one of the most urgent governance challenges for dryland states in sub-Saharan Africa. Katsina State in Northern Nigeria epitomises this challenge: it is simultaneously one of Nigeria’s foremost agricultural states, a region chronically exposed to Sahelian drought and desertification, and a jurisdiction where energy poverty constrains irrigation and agro-processing at every turn. This paper investigates the governance structures, policy frameworks, and practical realities of WEF nexus management in Katsina State. Drawing on a structured questionnaire administered to 300 households across six Local Government Areas (LGAs), complemented by 24 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with government officials, civil society actors, development partners, and community leaders, the study maps the interlinkages and trade-offs among the three resource domains and assesses the coherence of existing policies. Findings reveal severe fragmentation in institutional mandates, inadequate inter-sectoral coordination, underperforming subsidy programmes, and a marked gap between federal policy ambitions and local implementation realities. The paper argues for a dedicated Katsina WEF Nexus Governance Framework anchored in participatory planning, renewable energy integration, and adaptive water allocation. Policy recommendations are offered for state and local governments, federal ministries, development banks, and international development partners.

Keywords: Water-Energy-Food Nexus, Resource Governance, Drylands, Policy Coherence, Climate Adaptation, Irrigation, Food Security.