Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has disclosed that the state government is ready to collaborate with the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, NRBDA to improve water and agricultural infrastructure across the state.
The Governor stated this when he received the management of the agency on a courtesy visit at the Government House in Minna on Tuesday. Umaru Bago said the collaboration is to ensure that the state government’s desires and goals are achieved, as it has already positioned itself to pilot the agricultural revolution of President Bola Tinubu.
He reiterated that the state is desirous to work closely with federal government agencies and parastatals to foster the vision of a better Niger State. He also reassured the River Basin Authority that the state is working assiduously with both federal and state legislators to secure more funding for the agency, enabling it to achieve its goals.
Bago also promised to look into the issue of land encroachment on the agency’s land and directed that details of their lands be forwarded to the State Surveyor General with a view to ascertaining the level of encroachment and addressing it.
The Managing Director of the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, Aliyu Tajudeen Abdullah, in his remarks, said the purpose of the visit was to update the governor on the agency’s current and planned activities within Niger State and ensure they align with the governor’s developmental priorities.
He enumerated some of the impactful projects in different parts of the state, including the construction and rehabilitation of dams and irrigation schemes, access roads, and provision of farm machinery. He added that N9 billion has been allocated for Niger State through the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority in the 2025 fiscal year.
