By Suleiman Yakubu

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, has said the present administration's refusal to invest heavily on publicity has caused it the negative perception it was having with members of the public.
The APC chairman stated this in an exclusive interview with Newsline Newspaper yesterday in Minna, the Niger state capital.
He said the outgoing administration has performed very well in many areas in the past eight years, but pointed out that people were not aware of those performances or appreciate them because of inadequate publicity.
According to him, "if you look round, you see that a lot of work has been done and still ongoing, but you don't stop there, you have to publicise it.
"Former governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, will execute N10 million project and spent an equal amount of money to publicise it. Here, we didn't invest that kind of resources in publicity and it is really costing us the negative perception we're having", he said.
Hon Zakari said he hoped that the incoming government will build on the legacies of the outgoing administration and improve on it. He said since both were APC government, it was expected that there will be continuation of programmes and projects.
He called on the people to support the incoming administration to achieve its mandate and deliver on its promises, saying the party and its various organs will make sure its noble manifestoes were implemented.
The party Chief who spoke on many crucial issues, was hopeful that the incoming administration will succeed just as much as the outgoing one.
The full version of the interview will be published in the special edition of Newsline newspaper as part of the inauguration activities of the incoming government of Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago.

By Sunday Yakubu

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project in Niger State.
The Governor gave the commendation when he joined the Minister of Power, Eng. Abubakar Aliyu and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam on a fact-finding visit to the facility.
He described the project as excellent, adding that the Hydroelectric Dam being the fourth in the state would benefit the surrounding communities and ensure access to more electricity to the people of the state and beyond. "We will have more access to electricity, the project will provide great opportunities even for the communities around as they will benefit from training, job opportunities and more", he said. The Governor added that the state government is doing everything possible to secure the project adding that at 99% percent, the project was ready for commissioning.