Governor Umaru Bago of Niger on Thursday disclosed that his administration has secured a N500billion facility to construct N1,000km roads across the state.
The governor made the disclosure at the ground breaking ceremony of the 82-kilometre Minna-Bida dual carriageway at Kakapangi.
Describing the event as historic and the fulfilment of his promise to the people under his New Niger Agenda, Mr Bago said there would be streetlights, interchanges, and underpasses at both ends of the dual-carriageway.
The governor also said the ongoing projects in the state will create 3 million direct and indirect jobs.
Mr Bago assured that 100% funding has been provided by the Islamic Development Bank and the Ahbu Dhabi Fund for Development for the road project.
“Today is historic to us, as a state, this road has been here and fallowed for too long.
“We want to thank Mr President for his journey to Saudi Arabia, and making sure that this road is sponsored, finance,by both the Islamic Development Bank, and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and the Niger State government.
“Before I came to the podium, my leader, the national chairman, of our party whispered some things to me. And I think It is important that I share it with everybody.
“He said make sure you have funding, to finish this project. You can see that everybody is happy as you want to break ground for this project.
“I said to him, my father, the Islamic Development Bank and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development have provided 100 percent funding for this project.
“To other people who are spectators here, for your information, all the 1000km roads we have commenced have gotten N500 billion funding for these projects.
“So to allay your fears, no job is going to stop.”
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the tax credit scheme, which led to the full financing of the reconstruction of the Minna-Kontagora, Bida-Zungeru, Lapai-Mokwa, and Minna-Suleja road projects.
“For now, Nigerlites, we can’t sustain this, just like that we need to produce.
“These jobs we have created have the capacity to create three million direct and indirect jobs.
“So the teeming youths that are here , you have the opportunity to be suppliers of cement, stones ,sandals, and we have given a marching order to all the contractors, to patronise only local contents,” the governor said.
In his goodwill messages, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, described the farmer governor as a shining example of good governance.
According to him, the governor has made the difficult task of governance very easy.
“From what I have seen so far, on the ground, there is no doubt that in the next few years, Niger State will be completely transformed, the landmark economic projects, being commissioned today, are indications that Nigerians can work in our time.
“He came and met challenges, but he has taken on those challenges with poise, decorum, panache, and proactiveness, and he is producing results.
“So on behalf of our great party, the APC let me say that we a very proud of the Governor Umaru Bago and present him as a shining example of good governance,” Mr Ganduje added.
Speaking earlier, the President applauded the governor for embarking on unprecedented road projects in the state.
Represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the president said Mr Bago is showing the way not only in agriculture but in infrastructural development.
He pledged to continue to support and partner with the state for the effective delivery of the dividends of democracy.
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