Niger Gov't Not Keen on Completing Minna City Center Project, Asks Investors to Take Over

The Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has stated that his administration was not favorably disposed to completing the Minna City Center project began by the government of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

Speaking while on an inspection of some uncompleted projects left over by the previous government, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello said the entire project had to be repackaged and handed over to the private investors on a build, operate and transfer system of partnership.

He stated that the challenges before his government were enormous and that the state was not in position to fund the gigantic project which had already gulped over N900Million.

The Governor suggested that the project be repackaged in such a way that it would be able to finance itself stressing that a long term bond could be secured to fund and complete the project.

While admitting that the project was a nice concept, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello expressed doubt if the state government could move the project from where it is presently because of the precarious financial position of the state.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu confirmed that the state was not presently in a position to pay or finance the project adding that the state government was, in the last nine months, barely able to pay salaries.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Adamu Jagaba disclosed that the 22 storey Minna City Tower and the Shopping Mall were at 32% and 15% levels of completion with N600Million and N200Million spent on the projects respectively.

By Musa Suleiman (office of the CPS)
Source: abubakarsanibello.com