The former secretary to the Niger government, Mohammed Kuta-Yahaya, says Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has now put the state on a global map.

“Bago is taking Niger to greater heights, and it is now at par with its contemporaries across the globe,” Mr Kuta-Yahaya, also the pro-chancellor of the Abdulkadir Kure University, told journalists in Bida on Sunday.

According to him, Mr Bago has taken the bold step to push agriculture to the zenith of excellence, and several developmental works are ongoing across the state.

“In terms of infrastructural development, the consciousness of the people of the state has soared to a positive level.

“The people are happy, and they have hopes and goodwill towards him so that he can logically complete the good works he has started across the state,” Mr Kuta-Yahaya said.

The don particularly cited the giant strides recorded by Mr Bago in Bida, the Headquarters of the Bida Local Government Area.

Mr Kuta-Yahaya said, “For instance, I have happily seen the Bida Ring Road project, and it is marvelous.

“Niger is on the verge of making history in terms of governance, development, and grassroots mobilisation.”

The former SSG also commended the governor for making the ward development committees in the state more diligent and impactful.

“Each of the 274 ward development committees in the state receives N1 million monthly, making it a total of N88 million for the execution of various projects.

“With this development, the people in the grassroots will have a feeling of what governance is all about and not only in the state capital, Minna, or the LG headquarters,” he stated.

According to Mr Kuta-Yahaya, Mr Bago is showing a classic example of the revolution of power and governance to the people.

“I must also commend President Bola Tinubu for initiating a similar ward development initiative across the 8,700 wards in the country. Democracy has taken its full grip in our systems,” he added.

Mr Kuta-Yahaya commended Mr Bago and the State Independent Electoral Commission for conducting free, fair, and transparent local government elections on Saturday.

(NAN)