Niger State Governor Reveals Plans to End Dependence on Federal Allocation
In a bold move, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has declared that the state does not need to rely on the monthly allocation from the federation account to survive. Speaking at a stakeholder town hall meeting in Minna, the state capital, Bago expressed confidence in the state’s ability to thrive on its own.
According to the governor, Niger State’s abundance of bodies of water and four hydroelectric dams make it an ideal location for food production. “We are not poor and are producing, which is our secret,” he revealed. “Many people have invested in Niger State for the next five years and we even had to defer a bilateral agreement with the United Arab Emirate’s Dubai until next year since Nigeria cannot feed itself now.”
To further drive this vision, Bago announced plans to employ one million youths in the state’s greenhouse project. Each youth will receive a minimum wage of N500,000 to work in the 100,000 greenhouses located at the Airport City project. This initiative aims to address the problem of unemployment and provide jobs to the teeming unemployed.
The governor also approved the release of N20,000 wage award for disbursement to all categories of civil servants and N2 billion as scholarship allowances to students of tertiary institutions across the state.
Additionally, Niger State Commissioner of Police Shawulu Danmamman spoke on behalf of security chiefs, assuring that security agencies in the state are working round the clock to ensure peace for sustainable development and will not relent in that direction.
Bago’s ambitious plans have sparked optimism among Nigerians, who are eager to see the state become a food basket for the country. With its abundant natural resources and innovative initiatives, Niger State is poised to take a significant step towards self-sufficiency and economic growth.
