Niger State Government says there is no cause for alarm as theUumar Bago-led administration remains focused in its resolve to transform the state to the next level.
The State Commissioner for Works, Engineer Suleiman Umar, and the Permanent Secretary, Hassan Baba Etsu, stated this while interacting with journalists in Minna, the state capital.
He debunked claims in some quarters suggesting that the ongoing multi-billion-naira urban renewal projects in Minna, the state capital, as well as in the 25 local councils, have been stalled due to lack of funds.
Engineer Umar frowned at the people fabricating false rumours, describing them as misleading and an unfair representation of the government’s efforts towards infrastructural transformation aimed at providing basic necessities to the citizenry.
According to him, the slight slowdown observed in some sections of the projects—specifically the construction of the overhead bridges and roads in Minna—is a direct consequence of the intense rainy season currently being experienced across the state.
He also highlighted that regular rain and waterlogging had made it difficult for contractors to proceed at full speed with earthworks and road-laying activities.
“The work is steadily going on. What we are witnessing is a strategic adjustment of operations due to the rainy season,” the Commissioner explained. “The contractors, particularly the Chinese firms handling the bridges, are currently concentrating on hydronic works and the concrete erection of bridge pillars. These are critical foundational activities that can still be undertaken even during the rains.”
The government also addressed the issue of the 350 ad-hoc staff recently disengaged by Arab Contractors, one of the firms working on the urban renewal project.
Sulaiman further cleared the air that the disengagement of the ad-hoc workers was temporary and necessitated by seasonal constraints, adding that the affected workers are expected to be recalled by October, when the rains begin to subside and full-scale construction activities resume.
He noted that they will enjoy certain incentives from the contractors during this off-season, and all of them are expected to return to site as the dry season sets in.
He further emphasized that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Bago, remains fully committed to completing all ongoing infrastructure projects, and that modalities for sustainable funding of these projects have been strategically worked out to avoid delays.
He, however, urged Nigerlites to continue to support the Bago administration, promising that the urban renewal programme is a project that requires both financial discipline and technical precision to achieve.
On his part, Permanent Secretary Hassan Baba Etsu hinted that the government has entered into well-structured contractual agreements that ensure that funds are released as needed, and the urban renewal projects will not be abandoned or delayed unnecessarily.
