The Niger State government has secured a $150 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to execute a solar power project in the state.

Chairman, New Niger Development Project (NNDP), Mustapha Abubakar, disclosed this on Tuesday in Minna at the second edition of the quarterly media briefing organised by the state Ministry of Information and Orientation.

Mr Abubakar said that the state government would provide a $10 million counterpart contribution, bringing the total project cost to $160 million.

He attributed the successful negotiation of the loan to the state government’s effective management of the Minna-Bida Road project.

“I can tell you in the portfolio of IsDB as of today, the Minna-Bida Road project is the best-managed project, and because of the way we have effectively managed the project, it has helped us secure a loan for a solar project,” he said.

The NNDP chairman stated that the solar project would be located in Maikunkele and would include social intervention components aimed at positively impacting residents.

He explained that the NNDP, established under Executive Order 30 of 2023, was responsible for supporting ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) implementing projects to ensure effective and seamless execution.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Umar Rebe, said the state government had reduced cases of farmer-herder clashes to their lowest level.

Mr Rebe attributed the achievement to the inclusive governance approach of the present administration, which had enabled the government to identify pastoralists and provide them with basic social amenities and employment opportunities.

“We now have data on pastoralists in the state, and we are collaborating with security agencies to profile those coming from other states to avert crisis in the future,” he said.

The commissioner stated committees had been established and advocacy efforts sustained to consolidate the gains recorded in reducing farmer-herder clashes in the state. 

(NAN)