The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger State

  • Fire destroys goods, properties in Minna

    Fire destroys goods, properties in Minna

    A series of fire in Minna, Niger State capital has left traders and business owners with losses, exposing gaps in emergency response and community relations.

    At the Gwari Market, fire destroyed shops and goods worth millions of naira. The fire occurred in the morning when traders were opening their shops. The reason for the fire has not been ascertained.

    Another fire occurred at Tunga, opposite the GTbank and behind a Motel, resulting in property damage, including a furniture store, a gas cylinder shop, and parts of the motel.

    The fire would have been subdued, but for youths who obstructed firefighters attempting to control the blaze.

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    Eyewitnesses reported that the fire service was contacted immediately the fire started, but their late arrival angered the youth, who stoned the firefighters while chanting “ba mu so” (we don’t want you). The aggression forced the firefighters to flee for safety, leaving residents to battle the inferno.

    Community members attempted to extinguish the fire with limited resources, including a water tanker from a nearby construction company. However, the absence of proper equipment and the fire’s intensity resulted in extensive damage.

    Eyewitnesses suggested the delay may have been caused by ongoing road construction hindering access, urg ing patience and cooperation with emergency responders.

    “The youth’s actions only escalated the situation,” one observer noted. “We must work together and exercise restraint during emergencies to avoid worsening tragedies,” one of the eyewitnesses said.

  • Bago presents N1.56trillion ‘Budget of Hope’ for Niger State

    Bago presents N1.56trillion ‘Budget of Hope’ for Niger State

    Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has presented the 2025 state budget, titled “Budget of Hope for Sustainability and Food Security,” with a total allocation of N1.56 trillion, representing a 48.32bpee cent increase from the 2024 budget.

    Bago emphasised the budget’s focus on key economic sectors including security, agriculture, health, education and infrastructure development.

    Presenting the budget to the Niger State House of Assembly on Thursday, Bago highlighted the administration’s vision to consolidate socio-economic development and ensure food security across the state.

    Infrastructure and development would receive a bulk of the budget with N437 billion earmarked for road infrastructure across urban and rural communities; the agricultural sector followed with N399 billion allocation while the education sector got N90.9 billion.

    The budget marks a 48.32 per cent increase from the 2024 appropriation, with 87 per cent allocated to capital expenditure, emphasising infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and rural development.

    The revenue target includes statutory allocations of N53.4 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N85.3 billion, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N63.36 billion and capital receipts of N933.56 billion.

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    The Governor acknowledged agriculture as a cornerstone for growth, adding that the budget would also address the state’s infrastructure needs.

    He urged all Nigerlites to support the administration’s “New Niger Agenda,” emphasising the importance of unity in achieving the state’s development goals. The governor expressed optimism that the legislature would expedite approval to enable timely implementation.

    The Governor stated that the budget was prepared through a participatory approach, including citizen engagement through town hall meetings, and is based on economic assumptions such as an exchange rate of N1,500 per dollar and a projected inflation rate of 28 per cent.

  • Residents petition Niger govt over pollution from plastic factory in Minna

    Residents petition Niger govt over pollution from plastic factory in Minna

    …our activities not inimical to people’s health

    Residents of Gidan Madara Community and Dadin Kowa Estate in Minna, Niger State, have raised alarm over the harmful pollutants being emitted by Golden Age Table Water and Polymer Nigeria Limited, a plastic factory located in the area.

    The concerned residents submitted a petition to the State Government through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, urging for immediate intervention to address the dangerous levels of pollution.

    Titled “Petition for Quick Intervention to Save Our Souls from Noxious Chemicals, Plastic Fumes, and Soot Pollution,” the petition was signed by over 45 residents, including notable figures such as former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, Dr. Ibrahim Kolo, Professor Salihu Niworu, and Mr. Lucky Barau, among others. 

    The petition emphasizes the severe health risks posed by the factory’s emissions to the community’s residents.

    The Golden Age factory is located within Gidan Madara which is a densely populated residential area west of Minna city gate. The factory is known for producing sachet and bottled water and recently added the production of plastics like buckets, paint rubbers, plates, plastic cutleries, basins and others.

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    The residents in the petition claimed that they are being threatened by plastic pollution as the emissions from the plastic factory are posing health risks to them they said that the ambient air quality in the community, which is residential, has been degraded and poses a public health risk.

    They said that the operation of the plastic factory was a threat to their survival. They appealed to the state government to quickly intervene and shut down the Golden Age Plastics melting and Recycling facility to save them from premature deaths resulting from inhaling dangerous chemical emissions from the factory.

    The petition read: “The ambient air quality at Gidan Madara and Dadin Kowa Estate has been degraded. Nigeria ranks third among 10 countries with annual premature air pollution-related deaths. This is the environmental injustice that we, the residents of Gidan Madara and Dadin Kowa Estate have suffered from Golden Age Plastics melting and Recycling facility since 2019.

    “All efforts made to get the proprietor of the factory to stop air pollution with noxious chemicals, plastic fumes and soot have failed. He is suffocating us and killing us gradually while he goes home to enjoy clean air.

    “We are exposed to risks of blood poisoning and premature death from cardiovascular organ failure. We suffer asphyxiation (insufficient oxygen) day and night, and some residents of Gidan Madara have already developed respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic catarrh, cough, chest pain and insomnia. 

    “There is no guarantee that the innocent students of Himma International College, Redeemer’s Academy, Royal Ideal Schools, frequent visitors to Trade Fair complex, casual employees in Golden Age water factory, our children and grandchildren will ever live productive lives, having had their organs contaminated with toxins, furans, dioxins and hard metals that are carcinogenic and capable of endocrine disruption.

    “It is noteworthy that Gidan Madara layout is not an industrial layout thus, we have appealed to relevant federal and state agencies which are capable of protecting the environment and enforcing environmental standards and guaranty the rights of all Nigerians to enjoy clean air but they failed to stop the environmental injustice for overriding public health interest nor compel him to remove the plastics recycling plant from residential area since 2019.

    “The mutation of Gidan Madara water factory to a plastics recycling facility in a predominantly residential area is an aberration in the 21st century was civilization, abuse of privileges in a peaceful neighbourhood and blatant insult to Mr Governor’s New Niger and Urban Renewal Initiatives.

    “Justice is a virtue, hence our quest for environmental justice. We appeal to the Commissioner to protect our fundamental human rights to life and inalienable access to clean air in tandem with SDG 3 for good health and well-being. We are not opposed to investment, but utterly reject any investment that threatens our health and right to life. We have endured enough. For peaceful co-existence in the neighbourhood, kindly save us from further pollution and premature death. We cannot enjoy quality sleep at night or fresh air in the daytime. We are dying gradually.” the petition read.

    In response to the petition, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Golden Age Plastic Factory, Anthony Chidi Okoli said that the factory is not causing harm to the environment as they have put in all measures to ensure that their operations do not affect or pollute the air of the community.

    “We have taken all necessary precautions in safeguarding the community where we operate. We are not doing things to affect the lives of the neighbourhood. I have all the clearance from all relevant ministries and agencies permitting me to operate in the community. I even brought a new machine to stem any pollution that our activities .at be emitting”, he stated.

    He disclosed that the petition is not the first petition that has been written against the factory as he refuted the claim that the factory burns plastics, especially at night, saying, “We are not burning plastics. Recycling is just like melting and melting does not bring any smoke like burning does.”

  • Need for caution

    Need for caution

    • We urge restraint on claims and counter-claims on the situation of military camp in Kontagora

    It was a member of the Niger State House of Assembly,  Abdullahi Isah, who first raised the alarm on the floor of the legislature that those he described as gunmen and bandits had overrun and taken over one of the country’s largest military training camps located in Kontagora, headquarters of Kontagora Local Government Area of the state. Speaking on a motion brought before the house, the legislator claimed that the training camp, situated at the Nagwamase Military Cantonment, where the artillery corps of the Nigerian Army undergoes training, was under the control of the terrorists who had not only chased out no less than 23 communities across Kontagora and Maniga local government areas, but had established eight different camps in the forest areas where they harbour kidnapped victims and collect ransom from beleaguered relatives.

    Despite the swift and vigorous denial of the military authorities of this grave allegation, the Niger State legislature doubled down on its claim when the Speaker of the House, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, urged the army “to stop living in denial” over the presence of bandits on its training ground. He alleged that since the rebuttal of the report by the military, the terrorists had unleashed terror on communities in the areas, blocking the Minna-Kontagora road, killing about 13 vigilante members in Mariga Local Government Area and abducting an unknown number of passengers from vehicles on the blocked highway. Urging the military to speedily flush out the bandits from the area, the speaker said “As members representing our people, we get feedback from our constituents of their plight so before we present anything on the floor of the house; we have done our investigation very well”.

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    But in presenting information purportedly emanating from their constituents on the floor of the house, it is important that the legislators be sure of the veracity of their assertions so as not to end up worsening an admittedly fragile security situation. For instance, in its earlier resolution on the matter, the house had called on Governor

    Mohammed Umar Bago to liaise with the military to bring the situation under control. As the chief security officer of the state, it surely would not have been out of place for the legislature to have discussed the matter personally with the governor before raising an alarm that could cause panic within and beyond the state.

    Again, the clarification of the military on the issue indicates that the house had little or no communication with the former before going public with its allegations. The duty and responsibility of the legislature, particularly with regard to security in a sensitive state like Niger, is too serious to be treated in a cavalier and sensational manner. According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, “No inch of the training camp has been ceded to terrorists”. Describing the allegations as inaccurate and incorrect, he stated that “While it is understandable that troops have recorded encounters with terrorists in the course of operating in the general area, no inch of the training area has been ceded to terrorists. Indeed, troops constantly eliminate the threat posed by terrorists crisscrossing the vast area; our clearance operations in the area have denied the terrorists freedom of action”. Thus, the military does not deny encounters with terrorists in the area but asserts that the alleged successes of the enemy have been grossly exaggerated.

    It is unfortunate and unprofessional that the media reported the allegations in the first place without seeking the position of the military for balance.

    We recall that at their recent meeting to review the state of their region and the country, governors and traditional rulers from the North commended the military for recent successes in the war against banditry and terrorism in the region. It is important that we do not inadvertently propagate information that emboldens the criminals while demoralising security agents who put their lives on the line to defend our lives and property.

    Better still; the government should do a private investigation of the matter to ascertain the actual state of affairs in the place.

  • A placebo

    A placebo

    •Phasing out wooden boats is no solution to mishaps on waterways

    The two most recent mishaps, each of them claiming scores of lives, has occasioned fresh concerns on the safety of wooden boats in the country’s water transportation matrix. We refer here to the October 1 incident during which a wooden boat, said to be conveying about 300 passengers from Kwara State to an event in neighbouring Niger State capsized at Gbajibo in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, with more than 100 of the passengers feared drowned.

    And then the October 7 incident in Imore Town, Lagos, also involving two wooden boats, each said to be ferrying 16 passengers. They were said to have collided mid-Lagoon with 11 of the passengers rescued, the rest 21, apparently drowned.

    In fact, if the mood at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is anything to go by, the days of the wooden boats, said to constitute over 90 per cent of boats on the country’s waterways, are about to end.

    According to NIWA’s managing director Bola Oyebamiji, his agency is already liaising with the presidency and Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to replace wooden boats nationwide.

    We do agree, in a general sense, that the water transportation sector needs to be modernised and transformed for convenience, safety and efficiency. Our point of departure with NIWA is the proposed solution which seems to us, at this time, like cutting off the head to treat a nagging headache. For, while we might agree that wooden boats appear somewhat archaic and perhaps outdated, what is debatable is that these boats, which have served our people for generations, have suddenly become less safe in use.

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    The point that must never be lost is that those contraptions have remained – for those who use them – the means of choice in the absence of alternatives. In other words, they have dominated the scene only because state governments in particular have not thought it fit to modernise the sector.

    In seeking to phase out the wooden boats, NIWA ought to be careful in disrupting an eco-system that would have the potential to create more problems than it seeks to solve.

    We say this because NIWA has itself correctly identified the problems as one of regard for operational rules, particularly night travels, overloading and failure to use life jackets by both operators and passengers. These problems can be put squarely to the lack of effective oversight by those charged with the business of safety and standards in the sector.

    These problems, being in the domain of regulation, are certainly easier to address in the short term. This is where we think NIWA and state governments, in particular, should primarily concentrate their attention rather than what appears to us, as another initiative to throw scarce funds at problems that will in the end yield nothing.

    We note that some states, notably Lagos, have invested massively, not just in water transportation but also in ancillary infrastructures. We do not see anything holding back other states from embarking on similar ventures. That way, they will be better positioned to address the basic issues of regulation and safety while pushing aggressively for the much sought-after modernisation.

    Rather than being the source of the problem, the prevalence of the wooden boats would at best be a symptom of the sector’s state of underdevelopment. In the circumstance, phasing out the wooden boats would at best be a placebo. It will certainly not address the roots of the problem.

    While NIWA’s core  task is to make our inland waterways not only safe but navigable, issues of safety on our waterways would seem to us as beyond that which NIWA alone could address. It is a task for which they should seek active collaboration with the state governments.

  • NAF strikes clears Niger forest, kill several terrorists

    NAF strikes clears Niger forest, kill several terrorists

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has has killed several terrorists during series of bombardment at terrorists hideout in Alawa Forest in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    The operation was conducted as part of efforts to secure power infrastructure and restore power in Kaduna and other North Western states.

    NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, said this in a statement on Monday. 

    He said: “The strike followed series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which confirmed the presence of terrorist fighters who were converging to disrupt ongoing power restoration.

    “The air component, acting swiftly on this intelligence, planned and carried out a successful airstrike to neutralize the threat. 

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    “Overhead the target area, NAF crews observed and engaged the terrorists, neutralizing several fighters and their logistics with precise firepower.”

    Akinboyewa said that alongside the strikes, the NAF had intensified armed reconnaissance along critical power lines from Shiroro Lake to Damba, “maintaining airspace dominance to prevent any potential terrorist interference in the restoration efforts. “

    He said: “This sustained mission underscores NAF’s commitment to collaborate with other security agencies in protecting vital infrastructure and ensuring the swift and full restoration of essential services for Kaduna and neighboring states.”

  • We will no longer have dealings with middlemen or go-betweens for farmers, Niger vows

    We will no longer have dealings with middlemen or go-betweens for farmers, Niger vows

    Niger State government has vowed not to have any dealings with middlemen who act as go-betweens for farmers in the state, declaring its determination to relate with only genuine farmers across the state.

    According to the government, previous dealings with middlemen have not given the state the result it aimed at, as it realised that they had not had the buy-ins of the real farmers at the grassroots, although it has mechanised some lands across the state.

    This was the stand of the government during the flag-off of the town hall meetings with stakeholders across the three senatorial zones of the state.

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    The Executive Director of Niger Foods and Logistics Limited, Patience Koku, disclosed the challenges the organisation and government had with farmers in the last dry season farming and how some farmers connived to defraud the state government.

    “We started working with farmers since the last dry season and the challenges we experienced were farmer’s dishonesty. We worked through a farmer association, and we realised that we did not get to the real farmers at the grassroots, and that was why we were not able to get farmers’ buy-in.

    “Even when we have mechanised a lot of farmlands, we could not get the farmers at the grassroots to farm on those lands because there were go-betweens who were standing in-between the farmers and us and we later found out that these go-betweens were not a group that was representative of the farmers.”

  • Foundation donates cash, food items to 130 widows in Niger

    Foundation donates cash, food items to 130 widows in Niger

    The Ahmed Idris Foundation has donated cash and food items worth N3.2 million to 130 widows and vulnerable in the Bida Emirate of Niger state.

    The items were distributed to the beneficiaries at Wadata Palace in Bida, in commemoration of the 72nd birthday and 21st anniversary of the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

    About 130 widows and vulnerable persons got N5,000 and a bag of either 5kg of rice or millet each.

    Speaking at the event, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, said the gesture came as a result of Nigerians finding it difficult to provide food for their families.

    The traditional ruler urged others from the emirate to emulate the foundation and extend their hands of support to the less privileged people in the society, to alleviate their sufferings.

    The Etsu Nupe stressed the need for wealthy Nupes to always assist their less privileged brothers and sisters, to alleviate their suffering while commending the donor for the invaluable gesture.

    “It is only when the people of the domain are united that we can forge ahead and foster the socioeconomic development of Nupe kingdom, Niger state, and indeed Nigeria.

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    The founder of the foundation, Ahmed Idris, explained that his foundation was aimed at improving the well-being of the less privileged, vulnerable, and widows in kin Nupe for them to cushion the hardship in the country.

    Idris, who is also the chief press secretary to the Governor of Kebbi State, recalled the powerful delegations Etsu Nupe sent to his boss to appreciate him for the appointment.

    While congratulating the Etsu Nupe on behalf of his boss and people of the state on his 21st anniversary on the throne of his forefathers and 72nd birthday, Idris assured the royal father that he would continue to be a good ambassador of the emirate.

  • Tragedies in Niger State and Beyond: A call for comprehensive reform

    Tragedies in Niger State and Beyond: A call for comprehensive reform

    • By Arinze Oduah

    Nigeria’s rivers, roads, and mines have become death traps, with a worrying rise in fatalities across various sectors. The recent boat accidents in Zamfara State, which claimed an estimated sixty-four lives, and the earlier incident in Bayelsa State, where over twenty perished, are stark reminders of a broader problem. Nigeria’s weak safety standards and regulations, compounded by the failure of government and other critical stakeholders to act promptly, continue to endanger lives. But this does not have to be the reality. Around the world, governments, private sector stakeholders, and communities have collaborated to establish robust technical and operational standards, create safer systems, reduce fatalities, and minimize risks. Nigeria can learn from these examples and urgently apply the lessons to avert further loss of life.

    The success achieved under Professor Wole Soyinka-led Federal Road Safety Corps to reduce fatal road crashes indicates that establishing safer systems is possible within a relatively short time. As with our roads, so also our waterways and industrial mining sites.

    Nigeria’s waterways have witnessed an alarming frequency of boat accidents. From overcrowding to the use of faulty vessels and inadequate safety measures, the causes of these accidents are well-documented but poorly addressed. The Zamfara and Bayelsa boat accidents are just two examples in a long list of tragic events. These recurring incidents are not limited to Nigeria’s waterways—fatalities from tanker explosions, road accidents, and mining disasters are also increasingly common.

    For example, in Niger State, a recent mining collapse left over twenty miners dead, with many still unaccounted for due to slow and inefficient rescue operations. This was shortly followed by a tanker explosion that killed fifty-nine people. These accidents, along with the boat tragedies, underscore the systemic issues that contribute to preventable deaths from operational safety accidents across Nigeria.

    But what is most disheartening is the complacency that surrounds these disasters. Instead of proactive solutions, the response from the government and other stakeholders has been slow and reactive, offering only short-term relief like financial aid to victims’ families but failing to address the root causes. Nigeria must break this cycle by learning from the successes of other nations, and from past interventions that have been successful.

    Countries like Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines, which also grappled with frequent maritime accidents, have made significant progress by strengthening regulations, improving enforcement, and ensuring a multi-stakeholder approach to safety. Bangladesh faced similar issues of overcrowded ferries and frequent capsizing incidents in the early 2000s. The government responded by enforcing strict regulations, including a mandatory limit on the number of passengers per vessel, implementing regular inspections, and requiring vessels to have standardized safety equipment like life vests for every passenger.

    The government worked with the private sector and civil society to raise awareness about safety measures, and the collaboration with international organizations helped improve the training of captains and crew members. As a result, Bangladesh saw a drastic reduction in the number of boat-related deaths.

    India faced similar challenges, particularly with road accidents and industrial disasters. In response, the Indian government launched the Motor Vehicle Act (Amendment) of 2019, which introduced stringent penalties for traffic violations, mandated insurance coverage for road users, and launched awareness campaigns in collaboration with non-profits and the private sector. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also worked to enhance emergency response systems, ensuring that rescue and relief operations were faster and more effective. The results were immediate, with a noticeable decrease in road fatalities and a more efficient response to disasters.

    Nigeria can adopt and adapt these strategies to reduce or eliminate fatal marine accidents. For instance, introducing compulsory and standardized safety equipment on all boats, establishing regulations on the maximum number of passengers, and training operators could drastically reduce maritime tragedies. A stronger collaboration between local authorities, community leaders, and international bodies could help build a safer environment across Nigeria’s waterways, while also ensuring accountability through regular audits and enforcement.

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    The first step Nigeria needs to take is to set and communicate transparent standards and enforce regulations. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) must act immediately to ensure that all boats meet basic safety standards, including the installation of life jackets, radios, and other equipment essential for emergencies. Additionally, Nigeria must urgently introduce and enforce laws that limit the number of passengers on vessels, just as Bangladesh did, to prevent overcrowding—a leading cause of capsizing. NIWA should also ensure effective direct and indirect oversight of all jetties for compliance.

    Collaboration is key. The government cannot do it alone. Private companies, especially those involved in the transportation and logistics sector, must play their part in enforcing safety measures. By partnering with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies, Nigeria can quickly implement training programs for boat operators and introduce certification processes to ensure that only qualified personnel oversee vessels.

    Public awareness is another critical element. In many countries, awareness campaigns have proven effective in changing attitudes towards safety. Nigeria should launch nationwide campaigns to educate the public on safety protocols when using waterways, roadways, and mining sites. This could be achieved through public service announcements, partnerships with schools and places of worship, and local community engagement efforts.

    Lastly, Nigeria must overhaul its emergency response systems. Rescue operations during recent disasters were delayed due to inadequate equipment and poorly trained personnel. The government should prioritize investment in emergency services, ensuring that responders have the right tools and training to act swiftly and effectively in the event of an accident. Working with international partners, as seen in India’s collaboration with the NDMA, could help Nigeria build the capacity of its emergency teams.

    In addition to enforcement and awareness, Nigeria must focus on long-term infrastructure development. The safety of Nigeria’s transportation systems, both on land and water, is linked to broader infrastructural issues. Poorly maintained roads and waterways increase the likelihood of serious accidents. Investments in modern transportation infrastructure, such as the dredging of rivers to create safer waterways and the expansion of well-maintained road networks, are necessary to reduce accidents.

    Stakeholders, particularly those in the private sector, have a crucial role to play. By contributing resources and expertise, they can help fund infrastructure projects that will ultimately save lives. For example, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dangote Industries, BUA Group, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other large corporations and associations involved in road transport could support safer road projects, while local transport unions, particularly the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) could work to enforce better driving standards and vehicle maintenance.

    The government, through public-private partnerships, should also investigate funding life-saving technologies such as GPS tracking for boats, which can allow authorities to monitor vessel movements and quickly respond when vessels are in distress.

    Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. The recent tragic accidents in Zamfara, Bayelsa, and Niger State are stark reminders that the time for action is now. By adopting global best practices and ensuring cooperation among all stakeholders, Nigeria can prevent these tragedies and protect its citizens. Immediate enforcement of safety standards and regulations, collaboration with international partners, adoption of relevant technology, investment in infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns are necessary steps toward building a safer future. The government must move beyond reactive measures and work towards comprehensive, lasting solutions.

    •Oduah writes from Lagos

  • Niger to prosecute, blacklist defaulters of agricultural inputs credit scheme

    Niger to prosecute, blacklist defaulters of agricultural inputs credit scheme

    Niger state government has vowed to prosecute and blacklist any farmer who fails to pay back the agricultural inputs given to them on credit.

    The state government, who stated this during the flag-off of the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers on credit in Minna, said that the only way for the project to succeed would be the prompt repayment of the inputs by the farmers.

    The Managing Director of the Niger State Agriculture and Mechanization Development Authority (NAMDA), Alhaji Muhammad Alibaba, disclosed that 20,000 Smallholder farmers would be edited from the agricultural inputs credit scheme while 10,000 hectares of land would be considered for medium-scale farmers across the state.

    According to him, the project is under a collaboration with the Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Limited with a focus on rice, maize, soya, sememe, and cowpea, adding that it entails the agency providing agricultural inputs to the farmers, which would be repaid with grains during harvest.

    “We will give them these inputs on credit so that they can boost their production. To minimize the farmers selling the inputs, there is a provision for monthly stipends so that the farmers will have funds to pay for labour and to transport themselves.

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    “The repayment plan is that during harvest, the farmers will repay with grains of whatever they produce. They will return whatever we give to them with one-third of the value of what they have been given. All payment would be in grains”, he said.

    According to Alibaba, farmers who fail will be blacklisted from benefiting in the next season and, if possible, prosecuted by the government.

    “We are pleading with the farmers that for this programme to be sustainable, there must be timely repayment as agreed. For farmers to participate in the next season, their participation will depend on how well and timely they repay.”

    The Niger State Commissioner of Agriculture, Musa Bawa Bosso, who reiterated that prompt repayment of the credit agricultural inputs being given to farmers, said that lack of commitment by farmers has led to the failure of a lot of government projects in the agricultural sector.

    “A lot of organizations and governments are afraid of investing in agriculture in Nigeria because of the behaviour of some of the farmers. We need to fulfill our parts as farmers to ensure that we are honest in our dealings and make judicial use of these inputs so that we can improve productivity.

    “We can’t say we are farmers and be found wanting all the time. That is why we are finding it difficult to have investments in agriculture because a lot of time, people fail in terms of repayment of these types of loans. Niger state government is not afraid of taking this kind of risk because we are committed to the new Niger agenda and make sure that we support the vision of the governor.

    “We want farmers to take advantage of this opportunity to show that we would be will be better and we can feed ourselves and be prosperous.”

    Bosso however stated improved monitoring by its extension agents in all local government areas to ensure that the farmers coming forward for the loans are genuine and they would keep to the agreement of repayment of the credit inputs being advanced to the farmers.