Niger Earmarks N9.8bn For Ward Development Projects 

Niger State government has introduced a very unique development strategy by earmarking N9.8 billion for various projects in the 270 wards of the state.

LEADERSHIP reported that the Ward Development Project was first introduced by the government of former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, conceptualised to take development to the wards.

On assumption of office in 2023, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago indicated interest in reintroducing the project with modifications to make it effective.

Consequently, the governor inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Ward Development project yesterday at the Council Chamber of Government House Minna.

He said Niger State Government had budgeted N9.864 billion annually for Ward Development, out of which N3m will be spent monthly on each of the 274 wards of the state.

Bago, who described the inauguration of the committee as historical, said the ward development project, which has been long awaited, has already kick-started with the inauguration of the State Steering Committee, which will, in turn, inaugurate the Local Government Committee with the Local Government Committee equally to form Committees at the Ward level.

The chairman of the State Steering Committee is the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Phalalu Bako Mohammed.