Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has said the state is endowed with great potential that will make it a giant, but infighting and a lack of cooperation amongst its political leaders have denied it the needed prosperity.
He said he was determined to change the narrative and bring all stakeholders together, provide a verifiable networking platform, and create a harmonious working relationship with everyone that matters to build a new Niger State.
The governor stated this during a special interview with journalists shortly after a grand reception his government hosted in honour of federal and state elected and appointed sons and daughters of the state at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna.
He said the state was blessed with potentials in human and natural endowments that should make it a giant in the comity of Nigerian states but identified internal squabbles, a lack of synergy, cooperation, and networking amongst its political and professional leaders as panaceas to its greatness.
He promised that his government would change the status quo. "This is the only state we call home.
We're great, sleeping giants. We have 10 percent of Nigeria's landmass, huge bodies of water, four hydropower stations, are agrarian by nature, and have the highest congregation of Fulani herdsmen in the world because of our rich pastoral nature.
"Niger State is the headquarters of shea production in the world, a giant in mango production, a great giant in cashew production, and the highest producer of paddy rice in this subregion. So we think that because of a lack of understanding and networking amongst ourselves, we are unable to explore and exploit these potentials. So I have called all my brothers for all hands to be on deck irrespective of party affiliation or political lineages; let's all come back and build our home ", the governor said.
Governor Umaru Bago said his efforts were to also show their supporters that it's all about Niger State and the construction of a new state where everyone will be proud to call home.
He said he wished to see the state in the next four years trailing the blaze while others followed.
He disclosed that the gathering will be made a quarterly event as a state policy to create a better avenue to compare notes, discuss solutions to issues, appraise progress and developments made, and offer advice and suggestions on the way forward. He ordered local government chairmen in the state to replicate the efforts in their respective local governments.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, who spoke to journalists, said they welcomed the development and commended the governor for taking the bold step, describing it as unprecedented.
He said going forward, it now remained on the governor to walk the talk, revealing that as federal minister, he will help the administration succeed.
"I feel really great. It's a very powerful symbol he has demonstrated today, and like I said, it's necessary for all political leaders and all stakeholders to come together to ensure there's this unity of purpose we all need for development and progress to happen.
The first step his excellency has taken is indeed a powerful one, and we hope he walks his talk and ensures that this thing becomes part of his everyday life", the minister said.
On his part, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi, said he will ensure that the federal government's agricultural pilot programmes start in the state.
He said this was because Niger State was a classical state with all the natural endowments that the nation needed to pursue its ambitious programme for food security. He revealed that the commitment of the governor to open a new chapter for the state was unblemished, noting that the state will gain tremendously from the federal government's agricultural programmes.