From Yakubu Mustapha Minna
The Niger state commissioner of finance, Malam Lawal Adamu Maikano has reaffirmed the determination of governor Mohammed Umar Bago in the fulfilment of his campaign promises to the electorates in the state.
Maikano made the revelation while addressing journalists in his office in Minna, assuring of prompt release of funds for all projects and other needs of government without compromise.
He reiterated the zeal and commitment of Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to the actualization of the state urban renewal policy by matching his words with action, hence the governor’s tall dream which can only be achieved by opening up the state is achievable.
The commissioner emphasized that the conversion of the abandoned famous Shiroro Hotel to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Teaching Hospital will boost manpower production in the health sector of not only Niger State but the entire Northern region of the country.
He hinted that with the urban renewal, a lot of potential will be harnessed and utilised for the benefit of the state and Nigerlites, as well as creating job opportunities.
“You can testify from the ground-breaking ceremony for the Minna urban renewal project that the governor is a man of his words’ he stated.
The finance commissioner dded that part of the governor’s dream was a revenue target of about N120 billion annually, saying that with the mechanism put in place, it would be achieved.
Maikano revealed that the funds to carry out these projects were readily available, as the government intends to use IGR, development partners, as well as facilities from the commercial banks to fund the projects due to government sincerity of purpose.
He maintained that Governor Bago was desirous of seeing people in the internally displaced people (IDP) camps returned to their various homes and communities to continue with their normal lives, which will soon come to pass.
He further reassured that security was one of the Cardinal campaign pledges of the governor while he is making unrelented efforts towards improving the internal security of the state, adding that the moral booster given to security agencies in the state through the provision of vehicles have tremendously
impacted on the drastic reduction of youth restiveness in Minna and environs which will be sustained.