Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said his administration intends to invest N1 trillion in infrastructural development in the state in the next two years. The governor disclosed this Tuesday when he declared open a startup workshop on the Minna-Bida road project co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) at the Government House, Minna.
The governor described Niger State as a gateway, connecting the northern and southern parts of the country, and maintained that investing in the state's infrastructure will be of immense benefit to the state and the country as a whole.
He appreciated the IsDB and ADFD for agreeing to co-finance the Minna-Bida road project.
Governor Umaru Bago highlighted the huge potential in the state, ranging from its size to the presence of four hydro dams and eight national and international borders, among others, which he said were selling points that would attract investors into the state.
He, however, expressed concern that, despite all the potential, the state was bedevilled by insecurity and infrastructural deficits.
The governor therefore called on development partners to support the state in the areas of security, health, education, and agriculture so that the state can attain an enviable height of development, adding that counterpart funds were available.
He also directed his commissioner for Communication Technology and the Digital Economy, Suleiman Isah, to engage telecommunication companies in corporate social responsibility (CSR), which would improve online education in the state.
The team leader, Alagi Basiru Gaye, disclosed that 163 million U.S. dollars have been earmarked for the project, out of which the Islamic Development Bank will provide 86.64 million U.S. dollars, 44.76 million from the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, and 31.6 million from the Niger State Government.
While acknowledging the efforts of the state government towards the success of the project, Basiru Gaye explained the startup workshop was important for the effective implementation of the project and enhanced the capacities of executing agencies and project management units, among others.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Hassan Baba Etsu, commended the governor for his commitment to the continuation of the Minna-Bida road project as well as the prompt payment of counterpart funds to development partners in the state.
He assured the IsDB and ADFD of an enabling environment for effective monitoring of the project and that the ministry would ensure that specifications and the terms of the contract were strictly adhered to.