Niger State government has expressed its readiness to work with the urban development policy of the state, which was prepared with the technical assistance of UN Habitat and the Republic of Korea.
The Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu, made this disclosure at the flag-off ceremony of phase two pilot implementation of the State Urban Development Policy through an innovative demonstration project held at the Security Chamber of Government House, Minna, on Wednesday.
He disclosed that, as part of the state government's effort to secure political support for the implementation of the policy, the state executive council of the immediate past administration in June 2021 approved the policy as a framework for guiding urban and territorial development in the state.
He added that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, was committed to reversing the debilitating outcomes of unplanned urbanisation and also maximising the transformative potentials of urbanisation for sustainable urban and territorial development in the state.
Alhaji Usman Gawu disclosed further that the UN Habitat and the Republic of Korea had been assisting the state government in the implementation of the state urban policy, where they provided financial support to the state to carry out two demonstration projects in some parts of the state, adding that for the 2023 demonstration project in connection with the state urban policy, the UN Habitat and the Republic of Korea had also provided the state with the sum of $25,000 USD.
The 2023 demonstration project, as highlighted by the secretary to the state government, included the installation of solar-powered boreholes, a 7.5KVA solar inverter, and landscaping at the Kits General Hospital, while the second project was the rehabilitation of three bi-water schemes at Beji, Tungan Mallam, and Kataeregi towns.
"These projects are a testament to our unwavering commitment to transforming Niger State into a socially inclusive, resilient, and sustainable town and city.
"We equally believe that the projects will provide tangible solutions and serve as a testing ground for innovative ideas that can be scaled up for the benefit of all Nigerlites," said the SSG.
He also urged all the benefiting communities to work with the implementating agencies to ensure smooth implementation and sustainability of the projects.
Earlier in their separate presentations, the Chief Policy Legislation and Governance Section of the UN Habitat, Dr. Remy Sietchiping, and UN Habitat urban development expert resident in Niger State, Emmanuel Adeleke, explained that the collaborative efforts of the organisation and the state government, as well as other stakeholders at the community level, led to the formulation of the state urban policy under 10 thematic areas.
According to them, while UN Habitat provided the technical support, the Republic of Korea provided financial support, adding that the Minna development plant, the Suleja Smart City, and the urban renewal have all been completed, and the demonstration projects are still ongoing.
While assuring their continued support towards the implementation of the urban policy and improving the quality of lives in the state, the officials disclosed that the Niger state government had always demonstrated commitment and was transparent in its dealings, hence the reason for the support.
Similarly, the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Water Resources and Dams Development, Alh. Akilu Musa Kuta, disclosed that provision of water was one of the cardinal principles of the governor Umaru Bago administration and that his ministry will remain resolute in implementing urban policy and also champion the cause.
He also appreciated officials of the agencies under his ministry who work tirelessly to see to the realisation of the policy and the demonstration projects.
In her remarks, the General Manager of the Niger State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (NISTWASSA), Mrs. Helen William Umaru, disclosed that since the passing of the law in 2022, the UN Habitat and Republic of Korea have been supportive of the realisation of the agency's mandate.
She appealed to the secretary to the state government to assist in facilitating the agency's requirement from the state government to enable them to demonstrate their goodness to the people in small towns of the state through the provision of water and other basic social amenities.