The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Niger, Umar Bago, says if elected he’ll initiate policies and programmes to liberate the state and reduce poverty to the barest minimum.

Mr Bago told journalists on Sunday that it was only by doing so that people-oriented policies and programmes would be implemented.

He stated that his passion for serving the state as governor if elected was the brain behind his coming out to contest for the governorship position” so that he can liberate the state.”

Mr Bago said, “the incoming administration would focus on health, the rule of law, education, social justice, agriculture, commerce and industries, among others.

“When elected, I will ensure that more money remains in the pockets of our citizens.

“When that is done, people will have money to spend. I will ensure that more money comes into the economy of the state.”

According to him, this could be done through new investment opportunities by attracting new companies to the state, adding, ”so that the unemployed can be given employment rather than depending on federation allocation.”

Mr Bago said his administration, if elected, would come up with a policy that would ensure” all the money meant to boost the coffers of the state government go directly into the state government’s coffers and nowhere else.”

The governorship candidate also pledged that skills acquisition centres are set up to train youths.

He added, “If we get into power, we will increase the welfare of our security personnel to enable them to perform optimally. We will use modern technologies and intelligence to combat all forms of  security challenges.”

Mr Bago further vowed to bolster mechanised farming systems and develop the extant agricultural value chains.

“We will also provide farming implements at subsidised rates to our farmers to ensure massive food production of assorted crops,” he said.

Mr Bago also called on party supporters to collect their PVCs and to work towards the successful implementation of electoral processes.

(NAN)