Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East Senatorial District has praised the decision of Works Minister David Umahi to revoke the stalled contract for the dualization of the 83-kilometer Minna-Suleja road, calling the move a “long-overdue intervention” in Niger State.

In a statement released Monday in Minna, Senator Musa highlighted that the contract, initially awarded in 2010 to Salini Nigeria Construction Company, had seen minimal progress despite the road’s deteriorating condition, which has led to frequent accidents and fatalities. According to Musa, Umahi’s decision offers renewed hope to the people of Niger State and showcases the minister’s commitment to fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s National Road Master Plan under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The Minister has taken a decisive step to address an urgent issue that has troubled the people of Niger State for over a decade,” Musa stated. “This revocation represents a commitment to ensure effective project delivery for the benefit of our communities.”

Senator Musa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, noted that Minister Umahi recently convened a meeting with key stakeholders in Abuja to discuss challenges impeding 10 federal road projects across Niger State. During the meeting, former Niger State Governor Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago presented updates on each project, highlighting specific delays and the need for improved contractor performance.

Musa commended Minister Umahi’s firm stance on accountability, stating that the minister reprimanded underperforming contractors and staff within the ministry. Umahi reportedly warned that anyone found hindering project progress would face disciplinary action, including possible referrals to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a proactive response, Minister Umahi ordered the redesign and re-awarding of the Suleja-Lambatta-Minna road (Phases 1 & 2) and directed the contractor for the Bida-Lapai-Lambatta road to immediately resume work from the Bida-Lapai axis. Additionally, the minister committed to securing more funds for the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina road project in the 2025 budget.

Other local leaders, including APC chieftain and former Niger State Commissioner for Information Jonathan Vatsa, applauded President Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing infrastructure needs in the state. Vatsa contrasted this approach with the previous administration, stating that “despite strong support for President Buhari, Niger State saw little progress in essential areas like road development. President Tinubu’s actions are giving us hope.”

Senator Musa acknowledged the strong leadership of Governor Umar Bago, who, along with the state’s federal representatives, has worked closely with the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that federal road projects in Niger are prioritized and meet quality standards. Musa concluded by urging the people of Niger State to support these developments, which he described as a turning point for road infrastructure in the region.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has countered reports circulating on social media alleging that it owes allowances to 72,138 external examiners who worked on the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
NECO’s Acting Director of Information, Mallam Azeez Sani, in a statement issued in Minna on Wednesday clarified that the council has fully settled all outstanding payments to examiners as of Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Mallam Sani explained that the payment process, which began on October 4, 2024, required meticulous reconciliation to prevent errors and delays. He noted that some examiners had initially submitted incorrect bank details, causing minor delays that were quickly resolved.
In addition, the council pointed out that “it was discovered in the process that some Examiners submitted incorrect bank details, which the Council has reconciled with the affected examiners.
All 24 banks involved in the payment process have now been cleared.
The statement added that “NECO has completed the payment of the examiners allowances as at today Wednesday 13th November, 2024 according to the payment plan of the Council”.
Mallam Azeez therefore described as incorrect and false insinuation in the social media that the Council has deliberately refused to pay Examiners engaged in the conduct of the 2024 SSCE Internal their allowance.
“The Management advice that any person(s) engaged by the Council should seek clarification/explanation from it, on matters oblivious to them before resorting to the Media
“NECO wishes to reassure its esteemed Examiners and other ad-hoc Staff that the Council cherishes their invaluable contributions to the effective conduct of its examination and will therefore not take their renumeration for granted”.
It could be recalled that some social media platform had alleged that the examinations body was indebted to 72,138 Examiners that were engaged as ad-hoc Staff in the just released 2024 School-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for the payment of their allowance.

Mallam Sani reassured NECO’s commitment to timely and respectful payment practices for all its ad-hoc staff, emphasizing the council’s appreciation for their essential role in the successful administration of the examination.

.

***Pledges Development for Border Communities

The Niger State government has called for the reopening of the Babanna land border in the Borgu local government area to revitalize economic activities and promote development in border communities.

This appeal was made by Alhaji Mohammed Garba Danladi, Director General and Chief Executive of the Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency (NIBBDA), during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Minna on Tuesday.

With the federal government’s recent approval for establishing border markets in Babanna, Danladi emphasized that reopening the border would enhance economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.
“The Babanna border market, when fully operational, will not only improve the lives of the people in these communities but also address security challenges in the region,” he noted, adding that insecurity often arises in ungoverned areas.

Danladi highlighted the state government’s vision to develop Babanna by implementing sustainable projects that would provide essential social and infrastructural amenities. The agency’s focus includes improving education, healthcare, water supply, agriculture, and economic empowerment in the area.

To maximize the potential of the Babanna border market, NIBBDA has identified key opportunities such as fostering trade and foreign investments, supporting agriculture, and reducing rural-urban migration.
Danladi added that the agency would prioritize revenue generation, agricultural development, mineral resource management, trade liberalization, and basic infrastructure provision to drive the border’s growth.

The District Head of Wawa, Dr. Mahmoud Aliyu, stressed the importance of addressing security issues to ensure the market’s smooth operation. Although security has improved recently, Aliyu noted that banditry remains a challenge for Borgu local government and called on the state government to prioritize this issue.

Chairman of Borgu local government, Alhaji Yarima Kilishi, expressed optimism about the federal government’s approval of the Babanna border market and the establishment of an agency to oversee its development. He pledged the local government’s support for the market’s launch, which he believes will significantly boost revenue and economic activity in the region.