EDITORIAL: NIGER STATE: TOWARDS VISION 3-20-20

There are many investment opportunities in Niger State and this is also the view of the first time visitors to the state. When one considers the proximity of Niger State to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja one would agree with the above statement.

One can see that the opportunities that abound in the state include areas like land and housing, Agro-based industries, education, information and communication technology. This is in addition to the fact that the Rivers Niger through the circumfluence runs through the state via New Bussa. There are three dams in the state e.g, Shiroro Dam that could supply electricity to Niger State and its neighboring states.

It is very important that the government and people of the state take advantage of these vast opportunities if they must achieve the 3l-20-20 vision of the Chief Servant of the State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, OON, Talban Minna.

The State must continue to strive in various ways to achieve this set goal so that all other things will fall into place. There are good road networks in Minna, the state capital. That is to say that almost every road leads to the different parts of the city but a lot of the inland roads are in a deplorable state. The state government must get the Local Government Councils to carry out their promises to people.

For example, many roads within Chanchaga Local Government Council are very bad and therefore uncomplimentary to the efforts of Chief Servant Muazu Babangida Aliyu who is currently seeking a second term mandate. Some roads like Lagos Street, Yoruba Street, Ibo Street, Sabongari Area and most Tungu roads are an eye sour to the indigenes, non indigenes and visitors to Minna.

We commend the efforts of the state government on the rehabilitation of some roads while Unique International Magazine was in Niger State. They include the Shiroro Road to Keterin Gwari Round About, NITECO Road, (Tunga) and the road from the SSG’s office to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters around Dutsen Kura. Some of the issues concerning road rehabilitation were discussed at the Jamaa Forum held on the 17^th of July, 2010 at the Emir of Minna palace.

It is a known fact that Niger is the power state of Nigeria. According to the State Governor, Niger State has produced two and half presidents for Nigeria. They are former military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, one time President – General of Nigeria who was born in Zungeru, Niger State. Therefore, the State must live this legacy. It is not common feat.

This magazine Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, “virtually” resided and witnessed that a lot of conferences took place on daily basis in the various hotels in Minna e.g Doko International Hotels, Haske Hotel, Hydro Hotel and others in the city. It is interesting to note that the ECOWAS Court held a ten day Retreat in Hydro Hotels. The Hotel also hosted the UNDP/Governors’ Forum Conference, the National Energy Commission Conference etc. Haske Hotel hosted various UNDP and Federal Ministry of Health Conferences and other special conferences. Doko International Hotels hosted several Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance Conferences and many more.

Interestingly, the 4^th Nigerians in Diaspora Conference 2010 was held in Minna at the U.K Bello Centre for three days. The visitors were accommodated in the various hotels in Minna including the earlier mentioned Hotels and, others like Shiroro Hotel, Gurara Hotel, Aloe Vera Hotel and Princess’s Court.

The Diasporas had fun in Minna but they were virtually restricted to the Hotels (not only for security reason) but they were no places to go for additional fun as tourists. Another reason being that it was not easy to move around because there were no intra-city transport system except destinated city routes e.g. Taxi cabs from Chanchaga Village to Mobil Filling Station and Bosso. The NIDO Conference visitors would have love to see more of Minna even at night but the various hotels did not have Car Hire System except the Hydro Hotel had a Skeletal Service.

However, the visitors went on excursion to the Maizube Farm, on Minna – Bida Road, the Masaga Glass Company in Bida enroute to the Gurara Falls. The visitors found the trip interesting but were not pleased with the roads from Minna to Bida and Gurara Falls because the roads were very bad.

Whoever is in-charge of the roads either the FERMA, Niger State Government or the Local Government Councils must do something about it because Minna is opening up as an International City. Therefore those “Tourist” roads must be maintained properly.

The good story is that NIDO Conference visitors enjoyed the weather in Niger State and also commended the hospitable nature of the Government and people of Niger State. That is a commendation for an emerging 3-20-20 city. Lest we forget, there were complaints by the visitors that they could not buy beer and liquor in the various hotels and shops.

When they were made to understand that Niger is a “Sharia” compliant state, some said that the state was too developed to be a “Sharia” State especially with a well educated and enlightened Governor. Like other delegates that stormed Minna for other Conferences, the NIDO attendees appealed to the Chief Servant to look into the matter and recommended that even if alcohol is not sold in town, they should allow hotels to sell in order to boost the state tourism income earnings.

With regards to the Chief Servants campaign for a second term mandate, all his men including aides should understand the man’s mission and should carry it out to the letter. From a closer look, one can see that some of them are indifferent about his person and his vision. There is non-challance and attitude problem among his men.

Some of them just seem to be mere sycophants or pretending to be involved in his quest to move the state forward. If you speak to some of them, they will tell you off record that there is problem in his cabinet but if you ask them why they are not discussing it with him, they will tell that the Chief Servant does not heed to advice except the advice is coming from only certain persons in his government. If you speak to some journalists in Minna, they will say that some of his men flatter him in his presence but say something else in his back.

This does not urgur well considering that the Chief Servant’s political opponents or detractors will capitalize on any division in his team. All must speak in one voice.

On the issue to his state Newspaper, the “Newsline”, Governor Babangida Aliyu should endeavor to provide funds for the effective running of the medium because that is his number one propaganda machine. It is not all well in that Press.

We have spoken our mind from research and observation. However, those who do not like what we have written do not leave us a choice than for us to adopt the stance of a mad man who once said that he set fire on the portion of the bush that was allotted to him for farming. According to him, he should not be blamed for the razing of the rest of the forest. Let the wise ones use their tongue to count their teeth.

All said and done Talban Minna is good to go for 2011.