ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state governor, Mohammed Bago says that his administration intends to raise the state’s revenue ceiling to N100 billion monthly.
The governor stated this on Wednesday during a public lecture organised to commemorate his administration’s one year in office.
Bago said that before his coming as governor, the state earned less than a billion naira monthly as internally generated revenue.
“We have been able to jump-start our IGR from about less than a billion naira to the first two quarters of last year, to about three billion naira, now we are doing N10billion monthly so it is possible to make N10 billion so it is possible to make N10 billion as IGR in Niger state in a month. We are going to regain N100 billion next year,” he said.
The governor in his address restated his commitment to keeping up with his campaign promises.
He maintained that his administration would focus more attention on strengthening the agricultural industry in the state due to its immense potential to attract investment and in the long run, help accelerate socioeconomic growth.
Bago announced plans by the Dangote Group to build the biggest rice mill in Niger State.
“This rice mill has an appetite for 500,000 metric tonnes of rice paddy. If you are going to the market to buy 500,000 metric tonnes of rice paddy, you need N360 billion cash to mop that in the market only so this is a strategic partnership. We are going to the capital market to raise N1 trillion.”
He added that his administration would embark on equally ambitious projects in the areas of infrastructure.
Precisely, he noted that the state government will leverage its proximity to the federal capital territory to carry out projects that meet the needs of residents in both cities.
“We are ambitious to build a rail track between minna and Abuja. To build within the corridor, 100,000 houses to depopulate Abuja by three million people in the next four years.
“We will also have farm estates, settlements, schools etc. People wouldn’t need to worry about the roads again,” he said.
Bago, who commended residents of the state for their support and encouragement within the past year urged them not to worry over the source of funds being used for projects in the state.
In his words, “done worry about where the money is coming from, but how we spend it.”
He pledged to maintain financial transparency and inclusiveness in the activities of his government.
He equally urged members of his executive council to ensure that they sit up to the task ahead.
In his words, “Anybody that is on this team that cannot measure to the speed, please, take the back seat.”
Ths online platform reports that the lectures were delivered by a former Minister of Commerce, Engineer Mustafa Bello and the former Vice Chancellor of IBB University, Lapai, Professor Nasiru Maturare.
The speakers discussed on the topics “Assessing the Bago administration’s policy footprint” and “The Bago administration’s policy legacy.”
