- Swings into action, orders demolition of police station built on water pipe
- Revockes houses, land sold to former commissioners by ex-governor
From John Adams, Minna
Mohammed Umar Bago, a three-term member of the House of Representatives for Chanchaga federal constituency, has been sworn in as the sixth civilian governor of Niger State, with a resolve to tackle the mirage of developmental challenges facing the state after 47 years of its creation.
The governor listed security, agriculture, education, commerce, tourism, health, infrastructure development, and women and youth empowerment as the main focus of the administration.
In his inaugural address to the people of the state shortly after taking the oath of allegiance administered by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, the Governor singled out security as the most compelling task ahead of the administration.
He assured that his administration will tackle insecurity challenges bedevilling the state with the intensity and urgency it deserves, stressing that “Security is a serious matter as enshrined in our Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that the primary purpose of government is security and welfare of citizens.
“We shall boldly defend that constitutional tenet and ensure that security will be given premium in our administration.”
He added that to achieve this, the administration shall collaborate effectively with security agencies at the national and sub-national levels to combat crime and ensure the safety of lives and property throughout our state and beyond.
The governor while assuring the people that his administration will make Transparency, Accountability and Fiscal Discipline its watchwords because of their importance to the success of any government, the government understand the expectations of the people, adding that “we have no doubt in our capacity to deliver, we have chosen to do things differently, We must be prepared to leave our comfort zones if things must get better.
“I declare before you today with humility and a deep sense of responsibility that the confidence reposed in us is not misplaced and we shall work responsibly with our team towards repositioning our state for greatness. I have no doubt that by the special grace of God and with your cooperation; we shall achieve remarkable milestones beyond expectations.”
As part of his first official assignment after the inauguration, the Governor ordered the immediate demolition of a Divisional Police Station at Chanchaga in the Bosso Local Government Area of the state, which he said was built on top of a major water supply line.
The governor also ordered the immediate revocation of houses and plots of land at the proposed three-arm zone in Minna which was sold to commissioners and other top government officials by the immediate past administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
Bago said the abandoned three-arm zone will be completed by his administration to provide accommodation to the three arms of government as was contained in the master plan.
It could be recalled that the immediate past governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello decided to sell the houses and lands at the three-arm zone to commissioners and other top government officials at the evil of the administration.