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THIRD YEAR ANNIVERSARY: NIGER STATE GOVT EXPANDS RECTIFICATION OF MINNA METROPOLIS BY 20%.

Niger State government said it has expanded the recirculation of Minna waterworks by about 20% in the past three years of the present administration.

The commissioner for water resources and irrigation services, Eng. Faruq Umar Audi, stated this on Friday in Minna during a press briefing on the third-year anniversary of the present administration in Niger.

Eng. Umar Audi, who explained that the expansion was to improve water supply, especially in the Minna metropolis, also revealed that plans are in place to expand the Chanchaga waterworks from 70,000 cubic meters to 125,000 cubic meters in order to boost water supply in the next couple of days.

Umar Audi further stated that machines in Suleja Water Works have been changed and the New Bussa Water Works rehabilitated through collaborative efforts with the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC).

He said in the last three years, the Niger state government has keyed into several partnership programmes with development partners, aimed at addressing lingering issues affecting water supply across the state.

In his remarks, the commissioner for investment and private sector development, Alh. Aminu Suleima Takuma, said the Niger state government has secured additional funding of 684 million US dollars from a consortium of Chinese firms for basic infrastructure across five locations of special agro-industrial processing zones in the state.

He said the funds were aside from the 29 million US dollars approved by the African Development Bank (ADB) for the project in 10 states, including Niger.

The commissioner also said that the state has initiated a no-tax policy for any firm willing to set up a solar cell manufacturing company.

He further stated that the ministry has signed a 163 million US dollar agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the development of the first solar project that will provide 24 hours of power in 189 communities over the next decade.

The commissioner maintained that the state has moved on from a resource-rich to a premium destination for investments and a model for economic diversification.

Similarly, the commissioner for homeland security, Barr. Morice Magaji,said the present administration in the state has been able to establish confidence among members of communities and iimprove information management.

He said a committee has also been set up to identify security threats and take proactive measures in nipping them in the bud.

Earlier, the commissioner for information and orientation, Mr. Obed Nana, explained that the press briefing was a platform to showcase the achievements recorded by the present administration in Niger state.

He said the administration has continued to reposition the state for sustainable growth, economic prosperity, and inclusive development.

Mr. Nana commended media practitioners for being part of the development in the state and urged them to uphold objectivity in their reportage for the collective interest of peace, unity, and development.