Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East), and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, has clarified his stance on the allocation of road projects in the 2025 budget, rejecting claims that his comments in the Senate were aimed at sidelining any part of Niger state.
Addressing the controversy, the Senator, in a statement obtained by ASHENEWS, reaffirmed his commitment to equitable infrastructure development, emphasizing that his concern was about prioritizing road projects based on economic viability, haulage, and vehicular traffic.
He noted that despite a budgetary allocation of N4.3 trillion for road infrastructure, Niger State was allocated only the Agaie-Katcha-Baro Road, with less than a quarter of a billion naira—a sum he described as insufficient for meaningful construction.
He questioned the rationale behind this choice over other economically crucial roads with heavier traffic, such as Minna-Suleja, Jebba-Mokwa-Makera-Tegina, and Bida-Lambata roads.
The Senator stressed that his argument was not about undermining the importance of Agaie-Katcha-Baro Road but about ensuring that Niger State’s infrastructure needs are addressed effectively.
He pointed out that Baro Port remains non-operational despite years of promises, adding that his advocacy has consistently focused on ensuring the dredging of the River Niger to transform Baro into a functional economic hub.
Senator Musa criticized attempts to misinterpret his remarks, labeling them as distractions from the real issue of securing fair and impactful infrastructure investments for Niger State. He reaffirmed his dedication to championing projects that benefit the entire state, regardless of geographical location.
