The Niger State Government has disclosed that it has paid about N600 million to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to offset the backlog of electricity debt owed to the company.
The Head of Service, Niger State, Abubakar Y. Salisu, made this disclosure during the post-state executive council press briefing held at the government house press gallery on Thursday.
He said the present administration was bittered about the embarrassment it faced whenever AEDC disconnected electricity from some of its critical facilities, such as the waterworks and the general hospitals.
Abubakar Salisu said in order to improve the provision of electricity in the state, particularly in the critical facilities of the government, the present administration under the leadership of Governor Umar Mohammed Bago had cleared all the remaining balance of the electricity debt.
He disclosed that, to the best of his ability, "the issue of AEDC's constant embarrassment of the government through its critical facilities has now been put to rest as the state is not owing AEDC a dime, except for the current month's September bill."
He also disclosed that plans were on the ground to take some of the energy-consuming agencies of the government off AEDC and that they were working tirelessly to achieve that, saying when this is done, the government will be completely free from AEDC embarrassment due to electricity debt.
The Head of Service disclosed that Governor Umar Mohammed Bago, having come from the banking sector, was able to stabilise the state's finances by being very careful about financial discipline, adding that the state is currently stable financially as it has not less than N10 billion in savings.
He revealed that in about 60 months of the last administration, salaries were paid with the aid of overdraft in the state, but that the present administration had paid the last three months salaries without taking overdraft, and that all development partner counterpart funds had been cleared with no development partner owing a dime.
Also, the state commissioner for local government, Hon. Hamidu Jantabo, said they were focusing on building a sustainable future for local government administration in the state.
He disclosed that having come from local government as a two-term council chairman, he was aware that anytime local government workers salaries were to be paid, the ministry had to take about N3.9 billion over draft, but that with the coming of the present administration the figure had dropped to about N2 billion, assuring that the target of the ministry was that by December the gap should be closed in such a way that salaries would be paid without taking overdraft.
He also revealed that it was not a hidden thing that local government workers were owed 100 percent of their October 2020 salary and a certain 10 percent and 30 percent, saying they have cleared the 10 percent and 30 percent remaining of their October 2020 salary, which he assured they were working on how to offset too.
On his part, the state Commissioner for Communication Technology and Digital Economy, Hon. Suleiman Isah, disclosed that information and communication technology (ICT) is the main thing now and that the state will leverage that to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
He disclosed that for the first time in the history of the state, the executive council meeting was held with the governor and other council members joining virtually, saying this will afford council members the opportunity to be part of council meetings from wherever they are, adding that they were working on documenting all council documents and resolutions electronically for easy access and quick action.
Earlier in her remarks, the state commissioner for information and strategy, Hon. Binta Mamman, said the first 100 days of the present administration were not without some modest achievements, even though the governor had shown no interest in celebrating the 100 days.
She disclosed that the present administration was committed to the new Niger State project and the urban renewal policy and that the government was committing over N200 billion to the Minna project, saying in the next 12 months Minna residents will have to use Google Maps to find their way to where they are going.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago says his administration will construct about 1,500 kilometres of roads in the next four years.
The governor stated this at the flag-off of the rehabilitation and construction of 202km of Minna township roads.
The governor said the road projects were part of his aggressive urban renewal policy that would bring significant transformation to the state.
He observed that the state has a good number of federal roads spread across the state, and his administration will fix them and seek a refund from the federal government.
The governor charged the youth to take advantage of the road projects to gainfully engage themselves as materials and human capital will be sourced locally.
He added that the government, through the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, will come up with an empowerment scheme for those that will trade around the construction sites.
Earlier, the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Suleiman Umar, disclosed that the project, which has a total of 202.4 km, consists of 22 different roads.
He said this was in addition to five interchanges and flyovers at strategic locations that will open up the state capital.
While describing the project as one of the most ambitious urban development projects in the history of the state, the commissioner reiterated that the ministry will provide the needed monitoring and supervisory functions to ensure timely completion of the projects.
The Managing Director of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Mr. David Wang, commended the resilience of the governor and described him as an ambitious man who was focused on changing the face of Niger State through massive infrastructural development.
Mr. Wang promised to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and ensure harmonious relationships with the locals for timely and qualitative projects.
Also, the Emir of Minna, HRH. Alh. Umar Faruk Bahago, applauded the governor for his giant stride, especially in the urban renewal programme, and pledged the continued support of the emirate council to the government.
At the completion of the township roads, the size of Minna, the state capital, would have been expanded to 100 sq km.
