The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gov Bago

  • Why I advocate for single-term governance system, by Gov. Bago

    Why I advocate for single-term governance system, by Gov. Bago

    • …inaugurated new commissioners, LG chairmen, and vice chairpersons

    Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has advocated a single-term governance system for Nigeria, arguing that it would make leaders more decisive and strengthen governance outcomes.

    Speaking on Friday in Minna during the inauguration of Commissioners, Chairmen, and Vice Chairpersons of local government councils, and board members, Bago said many leaders postpone key decisions because they anticipate a second term.

    “I am an advocate of a single term of governance. Unfortunately, we are back to politics, and everything in Nigeria is being politicised. There are things I would have done if I were in one term, but I am deferring them till after the elections,” he said.

    He noted that some underperforming officials should have been removed, but he could not do so due to political considerations.

    “These people have failed their examinations several times; they cannot be promoted, and they are a burden on the system. If I had a single term, I would have been more decisive. Everyone is procrastinating for tomorrow,” he added.

    Bago also pledged that women would hold 50 per cent of chairmanship positions in the next local government elections, describing himself as a strong advocate for women’s inclusion in governance.

    On national security, the governor reiterated his support for state policing, saying it remains the most realistic solution to rising insecurity. “State police is a reality. We need to abandon aggrandisement for progression. It is high time we embraced community policing,” he said.

    He prayed for the rescue of the remaining abducted pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, and for lasting peace across Niger State and the country.

    Addressing the newly sworn-in appointees, Bago said their selection was deliberate and based on competence, urging them to work towards the success of the administration’s “New Niger” agenda.

    He stressed that the agenda is a long-term vision aimed at building a sustainable state where citizens enjoy the full dividends of governance. “The new Niger dream is not rhetorical. It is an aspiration and a vision that one day we will be mentioned globally as the best state in Nigeria and in Africa because of our resources,” he said.

    Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to public service, noting that all appointees were chosen based on proven capacity. He urged them to embrace collaboration and leadership to achieve the government’s ambitious goals.

  • How deadly flood killed 111 at Mokwa

    How deadly flood killed 111 at Mokwa

    • Motorists stranded as bridge linking North, Southwest collapses

    Wednesday night’s rain in Mokwa, Niger State was not much different from others before it, except for its duration: about four hours.

    The residents, many of them farmers, were happy for the gift of nature.

    Their farms and crops would be better for it, they thought.

    And they wished the day to break soon for them to go and do some work on their farms.

    Anas Usman was one of them.

    But what hit them afterwards caught them completely unawares — water, water and more water.

    The rivers and other waterways came rushing into their houses, pulling down buildings and carrying away everything on their path.

    Seventeen members of Usman’s household were among those swept away by the floods.

    By yesterday, the death toll had reached 111, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    “We were preparing to go to the farm in the morning when our house was suddenly submerged by floods. We did not know where the flood came from,” Usman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “The flood submerged our house, causing the structure to collapse. We lost children, women and men, who are family members,” he said.

    Farmlands, roads and bridges were also washed away, the most important being the Mokwa Bridge linking the North and the Southwest.

    Thousands of motorists and passengers are already stranded at both ends of the bridge.

    Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba visited Mokwa yesterday for an on-the-spot assessment of  the situation.

    He also visited some of the victims.

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) commiserated with the victims and said it “stands in solidarity with the government and people of Niger State on the devastating flood.”

    Affected by the flooding areas were Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa town, Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

    Deputy Governor Garba said his visit was at the instance of his principal, Governor Umaru Bago.

    He said that over 100 bodies had been recovered, adding that search and rescue operation was still ongoing.

    “I have been briefed by officials from NEMA and NSEMA, who have been on ground since the incident occurred for search and rescue operations.

    “I was told that over 100 people lost their lives and some are yet to be buried as search and rescue operations are still ongoing,” he said.

    Garba, while addressing the victims at the Internally Displaced Camp (IDPs), urged them to exercise patience as the state government was working out modalities to provide relief materials to those affected.

    He said that the state government had received relief materials from NEMA, which had been handed over to the council chairman for onward distribution to the victims.

    He assured the victims that he would communicate his findings to the governor to secure additional support for those affected.

    He, however, cautioned against building structures on waterways and emphasised the need for residents to respect natural water pathways to prevent future disasters.

    Read Also: Tinubu understands weight of office -Minister

    Also speaking, Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, said that officials of the agency were on ground coordinating ongoing search and rescue operation.

    Umar said that the agency provided food and non-food items, including rice, blankets, and mats which had been handed over to the state government through the deputy governor to support victims.

    She also said that NEMA was working with the Red Cross and Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to support the affected community.

    Head of Operations, NEMA Niger state , Husseini Isah  said that over 5,000 people were displaced and properties worth millions of naira destroyed

    Mohammed Tanko, a civil servant, said  “we lost at least 15 from this house (pointing to the relics of the house he grew up in). The property (is) gone. We lost everything”.

    A  fisherman Danjuma Shaba  said: “I don’t have a house to sleep in. My house has already collapsed.”

    Motorists stranded aftermath of Mokwa bridge collapse

    Motorists are currently stranded as part of the bridge at Mokwa linking the North and Southwestern part of the country collapsed on account of the  flooding.

    One of the motorists, Awual Mohammed, told NAN that many motorists have been stranded since Thursday on both sides of the bridge, which made it impossible for motorists to continue with their journey.

    “If the bridge is not fixed immediately, it will disrupt trade activities between the North and Southwest regions,” he said.

    He called on the authorities to urgently repair the bridge and provide alternative solutions to mitigate the impact of future floods.

    Governors to work with ONSA, NEMA -AbdulRazaq

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) commiserated with the victims of the flooding.

    Chairman of the forum who is also the Kwara State Governor Abdulraman AbdulRazaq said that NGF “stands in solidarity with the government and people of Niger State on the devastating flood that has wreaked huge havoc in Mokwa town of the state.”

    Governor AbdulRazaq attributed the incident to  the stark realities of climate change and its adverse effects on human existence.

    In a statement he personally signed, the NGF chair said the forum was  ” shocked by the magnitude of the flooding, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties in the community.

    “We sincerely commiserate with the affected families and express our support to the state government at this difficult time.

    “We also commend the interventions of the Niger State Government and its coordination with the emergency responders to support the victims of this disaster.

    “This flood again reminds us of the stark realities of climate change and the accompanying effects on how we live. We commit ourselves as leaders of our people to continue to work with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to not only help our people to cope with this global challenge, but to strengthen mitigative actions and relief institutions.

    “We pray God to console families who have lost loved ones and properties in the Mokwa incident, and we urge citizens to support government’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to cooperate with agencies working to assist those in urgent need at this time.”

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had warned of possible flash floods in 15 of the  36 states, including Niger state, between Wednesday and Friday.

    More  than 1,200 people were killed and 1.2 million displaced in at least 31 out of Nigeria’s 36 states last year, making it one of the country’s worst floods in decades, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

    Of note was the September 10 collapse of  the Alau Dam in Borno State.

    The collapsed dam left  Maiduguri and Jere local government areas flooded.

    According to the NEMA  over 70% of the residents in Maiduguri were displaced and at least 150 people died.

  • Niger state has no problem with dreadlocks, says Gov Bago

    Niger state has no problem with dreadlocks, says Gov Bago

    Governor Umar Bago has addressed concerns over his administration’s recent comments on “hooliganism,” clarifying that the focus is on tackling unruly behaviour rather than targeting individuals with dreadlocks.

    Bago explained that the misinterpretation stemmed from a specific style associated with hooliganism, not dreadlocks in general.

    He extended a warm invitation to law-abiding citizens with dreadlocks who have businesses or wish to invest in Niger State, assuring them of a welcoming environment.

    Read Also: I will lead operation to flush out thugs in Minna – Bago vows

    The governor emphasised that his administration’s goal is to maintain order and address the perceived menace while respecting individuality and promoting a positive business climate in the state.

    Bago said: “Yesterday, we read the riot act on hooliganism, and people misinterpreted our words for people who have dreadlocks. We don’t have a problem with dreadlocks. We only have a problem with the cult here with dreadlocks. So if you have dreadlocks and you have business, please come to Niger state. All that is media propaganda. We’re not driving you out of Niger state. We are only driving that cult that is becoming a menace in Niger state.”

  • Reps commend Governor Bago for exemplary leadership

    Reps commend Governor Bago for exemplary leadership

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday praised Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, as a worthy ambassador of the House.

    The commendation followed a personal explanation by Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), who highlighted the governor’s remarkable achievements in his first year in office. 

    Benson praised Governor Bago’s leadership in driving an agricultural revolution, advancing infrastructural development, and promoting religious tolerance in the state—qualities he deemed unmatched in the country.

    Encouraging other governors to follow Bago’s example, the Lagos lawmaker shared that he had received a call from a Cameroonian Army General, a Harvard graduate, who lauded the governor’s developmental efforts in Niger State.

    “The General told me that considering what Gov. Bago is doing in Niger state, Niger state will be in a position to feed the whole of Nigeria and beyond within the next seven years,” he said

    He said even though Bago lost the opportunity to become speaker of the House in 2019, his current achievement has shown that he is indeed a leader with ideas and vision. 

    Read Also: Bago’s commitment to pensioners, source of hope for Niger workers

    Contributing, Saidu Musa Abdullahi (APC, Niger) said Gov. Bago has brought smiles to the faces of the people of Niger state, adding that the state created in 1976 has huge potentials whislch has been left untapped

    He said Niger state was sitting on about 10 percent of the landmaaa un Nigeria, with huge potentials for agriculture, saying, “I know the vision he is bringing to Niger state”.

    He disclosed that the governor is currently planning a 250 hectare of sugar cane farm which he said will earn the state about 1 million dollars annually. 

    He said further that the governor has not limited himself to agriculture alone, but was also carrying out a revolution in infrastructure, saying, “he once said that once you have the vision and the idea, the money will come.”

    He said the parliament should see Gov Bago as an ambassador not the parliament, having served as a member of the House of Representatives before his election as governor. 

  • Agriculture is key to addressing insecurity – Gov Bago

    Agriculture is key to addressing insecurity – Gov Bago

    Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has said agriculture is key to addressing insecurity and ensuring sustainable development in the Northern region of the country.

    Popularly known as the Farmer Governor, he said this at the 10th edition of the Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture held in Borno State and organised by the Sir Ahmad Bello Memorial Foundation in collaboration with the Borno State Government.

    This was according to a state by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim on Sunday.

    Bago acknowledged the doggedness of the Late Sir Ahmad Bello who was instrumental in making the Northern region focus on agriculture.

    He said, prior to the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the Northern region was globally recognised as a giant in Agriculture.

    Read Also: Kalu urges Eagles to focus on winning AFCON title

    He said there is the need to change the narrative by reverting to the old days and reduce the dependence on the Federal Government monthly allocation.

    The Farmer Governor also revealed Niger State Government’s plan in the Agricultural sector as it intends to use all ungoverned spaces which is responsible for banditry activities, with huge resources already in place for clearing of land, preparatory for agricultural production.

    He also suggested the need to deploy technology and mechanisation to be in tuned with modernisation and reiterated that Government must create enabling environment for agriculture to thrive.

    Speaking on education, Farmer Governor Umaru Bago said the North needs to sit down and chart a new course on what measures to take to improve on the sector.

    The governor advised that School curriculum must be in tandem with what is obtainable globally to enable the teeming youth have skills as they cannot be productive without skills.

    The 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lectures has the theme, ” Creating Pathways for Peace: Tackling Banditry and Insurgency through Good Governance for Sustainable Development”.