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Anniversary: Tinubu, Bago fared well in last 1 year- NNDP chair
Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar-Bida, the Chairman of the New Niger Development Project ( NNDP), says President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Umar Bago of Niger have fared so well in the last one year.
Abubakar-Bida spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday when he commented on the last one of the administrations of the duo.
He also acknowledged the plausible synergy between the Federal Government and the sub-nationals, especially Niger.
“Without effective synergy between the two tiers of government, there will not be any meaningful development.
“The Federal Government under Tinubu has ensured this synergy with the states, especially Niger.
“Niger is also demonstrating strong commitment to that synergy and things are working well for the state and the citizens, ” Abubakar-Bida said.
He noted how Bago swung into action when Tinubu tasked the states to help in bringing down the high costs of food items recently.
The chairman said,” Bago immediately swung into action and provided 1,000 new tractors.
“Tinubu came to Niger and inaugurated them as well as the Minna Airport named after him.”
According to Abubakar-Bida, Tinubu on Monday March 11 this year inaugurated the Food Security and Agricultural Mechanization Programme in Niger and theTinubu International Airport,
Bago emphasized that his administration remained committed to ensuring food sufficiency and protecting local industries for sustainable economic growth.
He said, “Niger under Bago is seriously working to reclaim its lost glory of being the food basket of Nigeria.
“Bago has ensured that Nigeria is being fed through Niger and this is a tangible dividend of the workable synergy between the state and the Federal Government.”
According to him, this is possible as God has endowed Niger with arable land and the largest landmass in the country..
This,he said, was a comparative advantage divinely bestowed on the state, hence it is leading in food production in the nation.
Abubakar-Bida stressed the strong synergy was impacting positively on all spheres of human life in the state.
He said, “There is a collective will by Tinubu and Bago to move Nigeria and Niger forward.”
The chairman extolled the stabilisation of the nation’s foreign exchange market by Tinubu,.as well as other efforts to resuscitate the economy.
He also expressed delight by the strong will of Bago to move Niger forward, saying, “no state has done it like Niger.
“Niger is now rated high in terms of GDP among the states in the country.
“It is glaring that Niger has made a quantum leap in the country and this is just for the first year, the planting year.
“When we reach the next two or three years, the harvesting years, ore developments will be reaped in the state,” Abubakar-Bida said.(NAN)
Another explosion occurred at a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa area of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday.
This incident follows a similar explosion that shook the Trans Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell, in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area just hours earlier.
The latest explosion reportedly took place at a manifold connected to a federal pipeline deep within the forest, which transports crude oil to Brass in Bayelsa State.
While the explosion has not yet been officially confirmed, community sources reported seeing massive flames and thick smoke rising from the oil installation in the forest.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, stated that she would investigate the incident but had not provided a response at the time of this report.
A video obtained by our correspondent displays a large fire burning in a remote location.
In a separate development, Ijaw youths blocked the Ahoada section of the East-West Road leading to Bayelsa State on Tuesday in protest.
The demonstrators, numbering over 100, carried placards in solidarity with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid his political dispute with the state House of Assembly. Some of the placards read: “We demand Wike’s dismissal as FCT Minister” and “Martin Amaewhule and 26 lawmakers have defected and lost their seats.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the four tax reform bills transmitted to the National Assembly in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the House had on Thursday last week, considered and approved the report of the House Committee on Finance which made some recommendations, particularly in controversial areas such as the Value Added Tax and inheritance tax.
While awaiting the Senate to similarly pass the bills, the proposed reforms are expected to be transmitted to the President for his assent in the days ahead.
Details shortly…
Two members of the house of representatives have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, announced the defections in a letter read on the floor of the lower legislative chamber on Tuesday.
More to follow…