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Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said the state will generate N1 trillion after the bypass linking Pago and Garatu in Minna, the state capital, is completed.
He also said the infrastructural development works in Suleja alone will fetch the state N500 billion, while those in Bida and Kontagora will generate N400 billion, respectively.
The governor stated this Thursday during the signing of a contract agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and Arab Construction Company for the construction and rehabilitation of Minna township roads and Bida Ring roads at Government House, Minna.
The contract agreement will have the CCECC handle the roads in Minna with a completion period of 24 months, while Arab Construction Company will handle the construction of the Ring Road in Bida within 30 months, costing the state N88b.
The governor explained that the Pago to Garatu bypass in Minna will open up 100,000 hectares of land, which, when commercialised and sold, will generate the needed funds that will be plucked back for other developmental projects.
He said the same thing will be applied to Bida, Suleja, and Kontagora, where the infrastructural development will trigger massive commercial activities and investments that will fetch the state money. He said the road contracts were in line with his urban renewal programme.
The governor also announced that the Suleja and Kontagora contracts will be signed in the next 30 days under the second phase of the projects.
While assuring the contractors of security, the governor warned the contractors that he would not condone variation as funds have already been earmarked for the projects with a 25 percent advance payment guaranteed.
He also directed that contractors should work with indigenous people, especially youths, adding that a job register will be opened for those interested in being part of the projects.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Hassan Baba Etsu, described the projects as unprecedented in the history of Niger State and said that the contractors were carefully selected through a transparent process.
He said the reconstruction of Minna Township roads will consist of six lanes with overhead bridges.
He said the Bida Ring roads will connect Chekungi and Mokwa roads to ease traffic congestion.
The Managing Director of CCECC, David Wang, and that of Arab Contractors, Mohammed Eledaruis, assured the government of the timely completion of the projects. They said their companies have mobilised men and materials, promising quality work.
The project consultant, Olatunji Ajayi, while commending the state government for the stride, which he said will have a multiplier effect on the economy of the state, assured that he will ensure quality projects are delivered.
The Commissioner for Works, Suleiman Umar, signed on behalf of the state government, while David Wang and Mohammed Eledaruis signed for their respective firms.
The Minna and Bida ring road contracts are expected to create direct job opportunities for 2,500 people, while 12,000 people will have indirect jobs.
Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy, has assured Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) under the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) that her ministry will give them more support to empower their members.
The Minister stated this while interacting with some WAG members at Abuchi Koro and Izom communities in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State on Thursday.
She said her ministry has a lot of programmes lined up to empower the women to be self-reliant and support their families.
The Minister, who was accompanied by the National Coordinator of NFWP, Mrs. Ruth Mishelia, expressed happiness with the way the women came together to form a group to support themselves.
"I am happy to see you coming together to help yourselves in this manner. Let me say that I am really impressed with what you are doing.
"You know, we just came on board, but I am assuring you that the ministry has a lot of programmes that we will use to support you," said the minister.
While addressing members of the groups as well, the Deputy Governor of the state, who is also the Chairman of the Project Steering Committee, Comrade Yakubu Garba, urged the groups to utilise the opportunity and help themselves and their families.
He noted that women were better managers of resources than men in a family setting, urging the men to support their women to succeed, which, according to him, will benefit the entire family.
He expressed appreciation to the honourable minister and her entourage for finding time to come and interact with the women's groups just a few days after her assumption of office.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state coordinator of the project, Mohammed Sarki Bello, informed the minister and her entourage that WAG is a group of women with income-generating activities, adding that to be a member, a woman is expected to have an income-generating activity and be 18 years of age or older.
He disclosed that the target of the project in Niger State was about 54,000 beneficiaries but that they ended up capturing about 75,000 women, saying Gurara Local Government has over 23,000.
Sarki Bello added that each of the beneficiaries in the first phase of the project was given a N60,000 cash grant, while those in the second phase got N30,000 due to the scaling up of the number of beneficiaries.
He also explained that members of each WAG hold weekly meetings and make savings, from which members of the group are given soft loans to support their businesses.
The Council Chairman of Gurara Local Government, Hon. Abdualim Abubakar Bonu, appreciated the Minister and her entourage, as well as the Deputy Governor, for taking their time to be with them, saying the people of Gurara Local Government will continue to support federal and state government programmes and policies.
There was a practical demonstration of how the women hold their weekly meetings and also a display of some products of the businesses the groups engage in.
The minister also made a cash donation to the groups to support their businesses.
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