By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has reiterated his administration's readiness to support the federal government in achieving its mission and vision.
The governor also disclosed that he has extended an olive branch to bandits terrorising the state to drop their arms, renounce banditry, and accept amnesty.
The governor stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, at his office in Abuja.
The governor explained that his efforts were not to negotiate with the terrorists but to make a clarion call to them to surrender, renounce terrorism, and accept amnesty from the government.
He said this was not new as it was in furtherance of the federal government's nationwide amnesty programmes to find a lasting solution to banditry and terrorism in the country.
"We extended an olive branch to bandits to drop their arms for amnesty, and we are discussing with them to see how we can solve the problem amicably. We are discussing with them, not negotiating, and talking to them to come out, drop their arms, and enter society. It is a clarion call," Bago said.
He described the minister as having a gentle, humble, and sympathetic personality, saying the staff of the ministry are lucky to have him as their head.
According to him, "Your appointment has come timely, and I thank God for the president for finding you worthy to project the image of the country and the present administration".
The governor called on the minister to use his office to also promote the state positively and attract investments to the state, considering the comparative advantage the state has in terms of landmass and arable lands.
The minister appreciated the governor's visit, pointing out that it was the first public official to visit him since he assumed office.
He highlighted the responsibilities of the ministry and assured that he would do his best to propagate the eight priority areas of the President Tinubu-led administration.
He stressed that the president was determined to see Nigeria become a better country and the lives of its citizens improve.
The governor also paid a similar visit to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, where he emphasised that the state was willing to provide the enabling environment for pilot programmes and other agricultural activities.
The ministry of agriculture said it will take advantage of the landmass and arable land in the state to address the challenges of food security in the country.
He said the proximity of Niger State to the nation's capital was key to achieving the mandate of the ministry.
The governor was accompanied by his SSG, chief of staff, some national assembly members from Niger State, and some other top government functionaries.

By Suleiman Yakubu

As the resumption of school for the 2023/ 2024 academic session draws closer, the Niger State Government is planning to introduce a school bus scheme for pupils and students to ease the burden of transport fares on parents.
The state commissioner for transport, Hajiya Hadiza Idris Kuta, disclosed this while interacting with some journalists in her office on Tuesday.
She said the state governor, Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago, has an interest in the transport sector of the state and is willing to reposition the sector in line with his urban renewal policy.
The Commissioner added that the school bus scheme would be part of the free education programme of Governor Umaru Bago, which she said will commence soon.
She noted that transportation is one of the basic necessities of man for his movement and that of his goods from one place to another, saying the state government has made plans to flood the state with vehicles in order to provide affordable and accessible transportation to the people of the state.
The Commissioner disclosed that aside from the state government's arrangement to get new CNG vehicles for the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA), the federal government's fuel subsidy removal palliatives also include vehicles in order to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal in the transport aspect.
"We want to get enough vehicles because we want to resume our transport services to all the 25 local government areas and also strengthen our interstate bus services," said the Commissioner.
She equally disclosed that the state government was making arrangements with some airline operators to start commercial services in Minna, expressing optimism that the plan would see the light of day.
On the ban on Okada operations within Minna and its environs, the Commissioner said it was a law that was still in place but that they were handicapped to fully enforce it because of the transportation problem brought about by the subsidy removal.
While also speaking on the criminal activities of some Keke operators, she advised the public to be vigilant while boarding, saying there are codes on the back of each registered Keke-NAPEP and that passengers should take note of that.
She added that they were aware of some Keke-Napep operators erasing the codes, warning the public not to board such a Keke for their own safety.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the state transport ministry has a lot in stock for the people of Niger State, as the present administration is willing to revamp the sector and resuscitate all its various means of transportation, including rail and water transport services.
She added that to achieve what the ministry had set out to do, the management will sit with the heads of agencies under the ministry and various transport unions in the state in order to be on the same page.