We are committed to rural development – Gov. Bello

The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has reiterated that his administration remains committed to accelerated rural development despite the economic challenges faced by the state.
Bello stated this when he embarked on mid-term project assessment tour to Bangi, the headquarters of Mariga Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor, who stated that though the state and the nation as a whole are experiencing economic hardship, emphasized the need for the people, especially at the grass root level, to be carried along and have a sense of belonging through rural development.
He assured rural dwellers in the state of efforts to lift their status, standard and condition of living through well thought out programmes and projects, not minding the economic challenges faced by the state and the country at large.
He said: “Despite the current economic situation, we are committed to rural development. This will do by ensuring even distribution of infrastructure, school renovation, road construction, provision of portable water and reconstruction of dams to boost irrigation farming.”
Bello then commended the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Kabiru Abbas, and the Chairman of the local government council, Barrister Abdulmalik Sariki Daji, for their efforts in bringing development to the grass root by digging of 106 bore holes and empowering 450 women and youths in various skills.
Earlier an interactive session with the people of the council at Bangi, the community’s spokesman, Hon. Usman Musa, a former member representing the area in the state legislature, appealed to the governor to assist the local government overcome the various challenges confronting it.
Musa said state government’s intervention will be required in the completion of some abandoned road projects to open up the area and enable them transport their agricultural produce to other parts of the state.
The former legislator also appealed to Bello to construct irrigation dams to enhance dry season farming among others.
Abbas, a stakeholder in the area, reiterated the call for speedy electrification of the area, pointing out that its only one of the 11 wards of the local government that presently enjoy electricity.
Daji disclosed that the local government under his administration has been able to drill over 100 boreholes across the area to help cushion the water challenges faced by the people.
He further said that 500 youth and women have been empowered in a joint initiative with the Commissioner for Agriculture to address unemployment among youths in the area.
Other highlights of the visit was the symbolic presentation of seed capital by the governor to some of the beneficiaries of youth and women empowerment scheme jointly initiated by Abbas and Daji.