I regrets taking one trillion Naira loan on urban-rural renewal project,-Bago.

I regrets taking one trillion Naira loan on urban-rural renewal project,-Bago.

FROM SAMSON ALFA, MINNA.

Governor Umar Bago of Niger state says he regrets to have secured a one trillion Naira loan for the state’s Urban-Rural Renewal Projects, saying it is heavier on him, would have taken ₦500 billion..

Bago disclosed this at a meeting with contractors handling various state projects, lamented the slow pace of work, inspite  of the release of funds. adding that less than half of the allocated funds had been utilized, raising concerns about a potential financial strain on the state.

“If I had known, I would have just taken ₦500 billion because the cost of ₦1 trillion is heavier on me,”Bago lamented.

The governor expressed frustration over delays in project execution, urging contractors to accelerate their work and meet the April 2025 deadline.

“So you want me to come up and tell you to do it? You have to do it in two weeks,” he told the contractors.

While acknowledging progress on certain roads, including the Paiko-Lapai road, he warned that contractors failing to meet deadlines risked being dropped from future projects.

“If you don’t perform by April, I will give the project to someone else. I am serious.”

Governor Bago reaffirmed his commitment to infrastructural development,stating that Phase 2 of the Urban-Rural Renewal Project is set to commence in 2027.