Niger Gov Bago describes 2025 year of mixed feelings on achievements, challenges

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has described 2025; as a year of mixed feelings due to both achievements and devastating challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, flood and tanker explosions witnessed in the state.

Reflecting on 2025 in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, he said his administration has made progress in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, agriculture, healthcare, economy, and security, among others.
Bago highlighted a N1.8 trillion paddy rice production agreement with Dangote Group and a N500 billion food production deal with Lagos State.

“We intend to increase the production of seedlings and paddy rice from 1.5m to 10 million metric tons by 2030. Hence, we have signed another agreement with the Africa Rice Center in Côte ‘d’Ivoire to support the state government. ” he stated.
The Governor also revealed, “healthcare facilities are being upgraded alongside the revamping of schools. We have commissioned over 20 upgraded, level two primary healthcare facilities; 40 others are almost completed, while another 40 are expected to be delivered this year”.

“The state government has initiated the State Schools Revamp Initiative, renovating 200 primary schools and recruiting more teachers, and other categories of civil service into the state civil service”.
He, however, acknowledged some obvious security challenges that characterised the year 2025, especially the abduction of the Papiri School children, who were later reunited with their parents unhurt, as well as the disturbing banditry and kidnapping activities in some parts of the state.
According to him, ” The state government is providing necessary logistical support to the security operatives and other critical stakeholders to isolate and hasten the elimination of these criminals. The state has, in collaboration with the federal government, successfully trained its first batch of forest guards as part of efforts to combat insurgency in the state”.

“Also, the 2025 Mokwa flood disaster, which claimed many lives and rendered hundreds of people homeless, was indeed very devastating. Although a natural occurrence, we are making frantic efforts to ensure it doesn’t happen again”.
“We appreciate the Federal and State Governments, corporate and non-governmental organizations, and philanthropists who supported us during the trying times”.
Bago, furthermore, expressed sadness over the petrol tanker explosions that claimed many lives at Diko, Agaie and Essa, insisting that such disasters could have been avoided if the people put the safety of their lives first instead of illegally scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.

The Governor then appreciated all residents of the state for their support in 2025, maintaining that the state government and citizens have made real progress in their collective desire to have a New Niger.
“We urge you to sustain your support and show understanding to the state government as it is leaving no stone unturned in delivery of good, efficient and effective governance in 2026,” the statement added.