•Governor Umaru Bago
Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has expressed regret over securing a ₦1 trillion loan for the state’s Urban-Rural renewal projects, admitting that ₦500 billion would have been a better option.
Speaking during a meeting with contractors handling various state projects, Governor Bago lamented the slow pace of work, despite the availability of funds, reports Nigerian Tribune.
He noted that less than half of the allocated funds had been utilized, raising concerns about a potential financial strain on the state.
“If I had known, I would have just taken ₦500 billion because the cost of ₦1 trillion is heavier on me,” he stated.
The governor however expressed frustration over delays in project execution, urging contractors to accelerate their work and meet the April 2025 deadline.
“So you want me to come up and tell you to do it? You have to do it in two weeks,” he told the contractors.
While acknowledging progress on certain roads, including the Paiko-Lapai road, he warned that contractors failing to meet deadlines risked being dropped from future projects.
“If you don’t perform by April, I will give the project to someone else. I am serious,” he declared.
Governor Umaru Bago reaffirmed his commitment to infrastructural development, stating that Phase 2 of the Urban-Rural Renewal Project is set to commence in 2027.
