Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bargo, at the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) used the platform to reveal that the state has put in place policies to drive urban development.
He said Abuja/Niger which has along history together despite ceding some parts of Niger lands to the FCT, they still lived on about 76,000 sq kms, of which just about 30 percent is currently inhabited, with 70 per cent of it ungoverned
“Now there is a new sheriff in town and we have in our policies and programmes aggressive policies of urban renewal, encompassing development of infrastructure.
“As you have asked what we are doing with the free space between Abuja and Niger, we have a free trade zone between Tafa and Garam. We are going to establish a free trade zone, we are going to dualise the road that leads from Madala to Minna.
It is about 40 kms and already awarded to CCECC.
“We are going to open up Suleja for people who want to develop. Someone had mentioned the Suleja Smart City, but why are we not attracted to it yet? It is because basic infrastructures are lacking” .
“So this Sheriff that is in town now, surely, take that to where investors will come. We are willing to collaborate, we have an open government with an open policy, investors, developers and financial institutions from both within and abroad are invited to come and let’s discuss on how we can move the project forward”.
“We also reaffirm to investors that the federal government has approved the construction of a rail line between Abuja,a station in Suleja, Minna, Zungeru, Bidda, Mokwa and Jedda respectively. Naturally, it will translate to individuals flocking in”
“The shortage of housing in Abuja; Minna by rail is just about 20 minutes. So, people can work in Abuja and go to live in Minna if we have an effective rail line”.
“We are working on that and the CCECC too has been awarded the contract. We have pleaded with them to start from Abuja to Minna. to enable us get the advantage of being first to be reached”.
“God willing, we are promising investors to come as we are willing to partner at all levels. The doors of the Presidency is open to us, the Governor has access to them and as such can talk to them on all their impediments so that we can solve them”.
