Niger state government has disclosed the commencement of short term 20 years development plan for New Bida town to strategically achieve its modernization in line with the current administration’s vision.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago stated this at a Town Hall Meeting/Stakeholders Engagement on ‘New Bida 20 Years Development Plan’ organized by the Niger State ministry of Lands and Survey in collaboration with New Niger Development Projects NNDP) in Bida local government area of Niger state.
He maintained that the 20-year New Bida development plan is aimed at boosting and engendering rapid socio-economic development of the town with much attention to the areas of modern social amenities for growth and development, to be extended to other cities to include; Suleja, Kontagora and Minna respectively.
According to him, the ring road of 44 km dual carriageway which is aimed at diverting traffic, added that a new city will also spring up in the area and social amenities, improve land values of over 300,000 plots worth billions of naira to be created for New Bida as well as a 100 megawatt solar farm will be provided for the inhabitants in the area.
The Governor, further warned the community members to be wary of land grabbers and speculators while urging them to embark on planting of economic trees to improve their land values especially during compensation, while expressing optimism for the future of Niger state hence government plans to extend to Baro city master plan underway.
He advised the people to be patient, show understanding and support the project, emphasizing that the State Government would not collect anybody’s land but assured the owners of any property that will be affected by the project to be compensated accordingly.
Bago also revealed that the development is going to be in phases of 20 years short term and 50 years long term plans adding that over 3 million trailers passing through can generate N3 billion IGR monthly left untapped while he insisted to ensure development despite inadequate financial resources available to the state
Earlier, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar has dispelled the community fears or collecting their lands and called on the people to cooperate with the state government in the efforts to develop Bida town is aimed at ensuring a better future for the unborn generations.
In his welcome speech, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Barrister Maurice Magaji, noted that the event is a defining moment and a shared commitment to transform Bida into an economically vibrant city, adding that the plan provides a foundation for sustainable growth, shape plans to meet the aspirations of the people and environmental resilience, among others.
The event featured on the Enumeration and Valuation for Compensation by Alhaji Adamu Mohammed, presentation by Architect Ramatu Teni Suleiman, on Optimizing Land Use and Infrastructural Development and an overviews of the New Bida by Professor Mohammed Bala Banki, Suggestions and Recommendations respectively.