Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago regrets securing a ₦1 trillion loan for infrastructure projects, admitting ₦500 billion would have been more manageable. He urged contractors to speed up work before the April 2025 deadline, warning of replacements. Phase 2 of the project is set for 2027.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has admitted that securing a ₦1 trillion loan for the state’s Urban-Rural Renewal projects may have been excessive, stating that ₦500 billion would have been a more manageable amount.
During a meeting with contractors handling state infrastructure projects, Bago expressed concern over the slow pace of work despite funds being available. He revealed that less than half of the allocated money had been utilized, raising fears of a financial strain on the state’s resources.
“If I had known, I would have just taken ₦500 billion because the cost of ₦1 trillion is heavier on me,” he said.
The governor urged contractors to speed up work, emphasizing the need to meet the April 2025 deadline. He expressed frustration over project delays and warned that contractors failing to deliver on time risk being excluded from future contracts.
“You have to do it in two weeks,” he told them while commending progress on specific roads like the Paiko-Lapai route.
Bago reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development, announcing that the second phase of the Urban-Rural Renewal Project is set to begin in 2027.
His remarks have sparked discussions on state borrowing and infrastructure spending, with analysts questioning the long-term impact of the loan on Niger State’s economy.
