Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has doubled down on his demand that the state receive 13 percent derivation from the Federal Government. He blamed the persistent flooding unleashed by the Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro and Zungeru hydropower dams for decimating communities and farmland across the state.
Bago made the call while hosting officials from the North Central Development Commission, NCDC, at the Government House in Minna. The delegation was led by Cosmas Akighir, chairman of the commission's Governing Board.
The governor told his visitors that the yearly water releases from the four dams have ravaged livelihoods and displaced countless residents. He stressed that this destruction alone justifies Niger State's push for a larger share of oil and gas revenues from Abuja.
Beyond the flooding crisis, Bago pressed the NCDC to tackle insecurity and communal violence plaguing the North-Central region. Farmer-herder clashes have become particularly troublesome, he noted.
He urged the commission to prioritise climate change and environmental threats, warning that recurring floods continue to endanger lives and damage agricultural output. The state's economy depends heavily on farming, he stressed.
Bago suggested convening a meeting between the NCDC leadership and governors from the zone to map out a joint development strategy. Such a gathering would help the commission align its work with what member states actually need, he argued.
The governor also pushed the commission to sink money into agriculture and education as drivers of growth. He pledged that Niger State would back the NCDC's work by offering office space and logistical support.
NCDC Managing Director Cyril Tsenyil responded by affirming the commission's commitment to partnership with member states. He listed the commission's focus areas as transportation, roads, healthcare, education, farming, industry, water, power and telecommunications.
Tsenyil assured the governor that the NCDC would work alongside Niger State to combat insecurity and other development obstacles. The commission takes its mandate to drive sustainable growth across the region seriously, he said.
Akighir explained that the visit was part of a broader tour of member states to introduce the leadership team and explore collaboration opportunities. The NCDC boss commended Bago's administration for its work on farming, infrastructure and governance.
