Since 1999, Niger State has been governed by three different leaders, each of whom contributed in various ways to the state’s development — from the construction of urban and rural roads to rural electrification, agricultural growth, and investment in human capital.
It is the hope of Nigerlites that each successive administration will perform better than the last. That is how true development is achieved: through progress and improvement with every new leader. As the world evolves, so do innovations and expectations in governance. As Professor Patrick Lumumba once said, “You are not successful until your successor succeeds.” That, to me, is the ultimate measure of development.
Governor Umaru Bago has, without doubt, raised the standard of governance in ways many — including myself — did not imagine possible. There is a rapid pace of infrastructural development currently underway in the state.
Bago is presently constructing over 1,000km of roads across Niger, including more than 400km that are Federal Government roads. Even in states where governors have received reimbursements for federal road projects, such scale has rarely been seen.
Today, every local government area is witnessing infrastructure upgrades, with at least 5km of road construction ongoing in each — a first in the history of the state.
While many have expressed concerns about the timely completion of these projects — a concern both valid and understandable — the Governor has already exceeded expectations. In less than two years, some of these roads have been completed. For instance, the 5km Munya road is fully constructed and awaiting commissioning, while the Mokwa and Lapai projects are nearing completion, with only a few sections remaining.
Another major undertaking is the construction of three overhead bridges and one underpass, as well as the expansion of major roads in Minna from four to six lanes. In addition, the state government has taken over the 41km Chanchaga–Jazu Village Road, where the new city gate will be located. This road is now undergoing expansion and dualization.
Anyone familiar with the 90km Kontagora–Rijau Road would agree it has long been among the worst in the state, if not the country. Despite being a federal road awarded more than two decades ago, it was neglected by the FG until Governor Bago’s administration took it over. The road is now under reconstruction, and even in its ongoing state, travel time has been significantly reduced.
The 93km Rofia–Agwara Road, another previously deplorable stretch, is also being rebuilt under the Governor’s leadership.
The famous Minna–Bida Road, first initiated under the Talban Minna administration through a bond from the Islamic Development Bank, was continued by the government of Abubakar Sani Bello. Today, Bago is dualizing the road, cutting travel time by nearly 50%.
In Bida, a flagship project is the construction of a brand-new 44km ring road, initiated by Bago to ease traffic congestion and transform the town into a modern city, complete with contemporary infrastructure and urban planning.
Suleja is another beneficiary of this wave of development, with the road between Kamba and Kaduna Junction currently being expanded.
In addition to the more than 450km of roads being built across Kontagora, Minna, Bida, and Suleja, every other LGA in Niger State is witnessing at least 5km of road construction — a truly unprecedented development worthy of commendation.
For clarity, here is the list of roads started and completed by Governor Umaru Bago:
- Gado Nasko Street – Zarumai Estate
- Type B Quarters: Abu Kuta Street, Jos Street, Daura Street, Kazaure Street, Ilorin Street, Zaria Street, Suleja Street, London Street
- Bosso Low-Cost Housing Area: AB Gaming Road, Spring Drive, Dutse Avenue, MTP 90 Blue and Red Street, Etsu Yusuf Yahaya Road, Gaming Link, Dije Bala Street, Goodie Special Road A & B, Dahiru Road, Bauchi Road
- F-Layout: Alhaji Dantani Street, Nmakolo/Abubakar Ibrahim Street
- Airport Quarters: Jiya Vatsa Road, Col. Sani Bello Road
- Kutiriko Area: All roads within the Kutiriko area, Opposite Kure Market – Fadikpe Road, Fadikpe Yapping Road
- Government Reserved Area (GRA): Office of the Special Advisers Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, Aliyu Makama Road, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Dr. Mustapha Abdulsalam Road, James Gara/Deputy Governor’s Road, Standard Hospital Road, National Prison Road
For those wondering about progress in other sectors such as health, education, and agriculture, we will be highlighting Governor Bago’s achievements in these areas in due course.
