By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger gov allocates land to Chinese firm for projects yards construction By Uriah Gana
Niger State Government has handed over about six hectares of land to the Chinese construction firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Ltd., to be used as a yard by the company in order to speed up their road construction work within the state.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the site, located in Maikunkele, Bosso Local Government area, the state commissioner of land and survey, Barr. Maurice Bello Magaji, said that the day was remarkable because it further demonstrated the commitment of the present leadership of the state, under the able leadership of our Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, to bring about genuine transformation in the state.
The commissioner explained that the handing over of the land to the company, which was handling major city infrastructural projects for this administration in Minna, is so that they could physically commence the deployment of their machines and personnel.
"It is important to mention that the choice of this location for your yard was not by accident but a deliberate decision to bring about development in Maikunkele, the gateway to our state by air.
"It is our belief that you would take advantage of this gesture of the government and the openness of the community to reciprocate by making your presence felt in the community and the state at large.
"On behalf of the Executive Governor of Niger State, Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago, and the good people of Maikunkele, I have the singular honour and privilege of presenting the title deed of 5.910 hectares for your yard development", the commissioner said.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Chairman of the New Niger Project, Alh Mustapha Abubakar (Sarkin Dawaki), called on the company to put in their best and ensure they deliver the projects on time.
He thanked the community for their support of the present administration.
Responding on behalf of the company, Mr. Bob Lee said the yard would be used to build an asphalt factory and cast beams for bridges, adding that it would also construct residential houses for their workers.
He appreciated the effort of the Ministry in finding them a suitable site and promised to implement their projects according to specifications.

By Suleiman Yakubu

A Coalition of Niger State APC Youths has condemned the utterances of the former governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Talban Minna), who described the immediate past eight years of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, as a waste.
While speaking at an event in Minna on Tuesday, Dr. Babangida Aliyu said that the eight-year leadership of Abubakar Sani did not benefit the state.
However, responding to a statement made available to newsmen and signed by one Mohmmed Umaru, the Convener, Coalition of Niger State APC Youths, said that it was a decoy by the former governnor to get patronage from the present administration of Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago.
The statement read that "it is on record that he bracingly referred to the administration of his predecessor, late Engineer Abdulkadir Kure, as a waste, yet he ended up doing the worst things, abandoning many projects like Minna City Centre, a five-star hotel, a three-arms zone, among others, that he is at present laying claim to and leaving them for the immediate past government.
"We are quick to remind the Chief Servant of the whereabouts of ecological funds, Sure-P remittance for local government councils, the 7.5 percent contributory pension deduction for local government workers and teachers, and many others.
"The same administration he is referred to as a waste of eight years cleared a 7.5 percent deduction for the state's civil servants, made new pension laws to bridge the gap his administration created, and left the pension burden on the immediate past government to resolve.
"The same administration he referred to, as a waste, has constructed well over 100 intra city roads, intervened in many federal roads to ameliorate the suffering of the people, embarked on a whole school approach, constructed many blocks of primary schools, completed the abandoned Jummai Babangida Maternal and Neonatal Hospital, reconstructed some primary health care facilities, constructed an ultramodern medical laboratory, and renovated and equipped some general hospitals, among others.
"The administration he referred to as a waste continued the payment of all bonds collected under the chief servant's administration and even completed some of the road projects, like the Minna old airport road.
"It is instructive to remind the Chief Servant that politically, the immediate past Governor, Sen. Abubakar Sani Bello, has proven to be a more successful politician than him; at least he delivered both governorship and presidential seats to his party and also contested and won the senate seat of Niger North, a feat the Chief Servant tried and failed.
"We trust the immediate past governor; that as a mature politician and a successful businessman, he will not be distracted to bindy words with the Chief Servant because it is not in his character, but as concerned youths of Niger State, we thought it wise to put the record straight.
"Moreover, the Chief Servant claimed to be a public sector policy expert; he is expected to have the know-how; every administration has its challenges, and government is continuously a platform for improvement and consolidation; thus, he has failed in an attempt to discredit the immediate past administration to gain favour in the present administration.
"The question is why the chief servant is always against the immediate past governor; since he resigned from his cabinet over 10 years ago based on principle, he hates Abu Lolo because he refused to be used as a conduit pipe.
"We therefore advise him to focus on his political career that has nosedived or better look for something more meaningful to do; it is about time he understood that unguarded utterances have backlashes," it added.