I Am Determined To Make Niger A Sustainable , Self-sufficient State,Says Gov Sani-Bello ...Calls for A Collaborative Efforts Among Stakeholders

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has said his mission was to make the state a sustainable entity that will harness and utilise her vast natural resources and be less dependent on the monthly allocation from federation account.

He however said that the task ahead of the state in actualising the mission will require a delibrate, determined and collective efforts of the people in repositioning the state to becoming a sustainable entity.

The governor said this during an interactive dinner with top Federal Civil Servants of the state extraction under the ageis of Niger State Federal Directors Forum at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the Federal Capital. 

"My mission is to make Niger State a sustainable entity. I am more interested in moving forward and solving the problems of the state and I am sure it is possible. We can do it. 

"We just need to sustain the system and change our mindset from being a consumption state to a productive one. 

   

"We are to close our eyes and take some certain bold steps and not think of ourselves. We have to think of the future. We have to harness the vast natural endowements and invest now so that we do not depend on Federal Allocation. Let federal allocation come like an augmentation.  Let it be that on our own we can survive, the governor emphasized. 

He however pointed out that the actualisation of the mission will need an attitudinal change towards public funds as it is not meant for patronage.

The governor then called for synergy between federal and state government workers so as to ensure effective and efficient service delivery in the state.  

He stressed that the interaction with top civil servants was to familiarize themselves with one another and keep them abreast of the activities of government at home, with a view to getting them use their wealth of experience to contributing to the development of the  state. 

The governor who indentified a wide gap in the capacity and ability of federal civil servants and those in the state service directed the state head of service to liase with the forum for capacity building of the state civil servants.

 Earlier, the Minister of State, Solid Mineral and Steel Development,  Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari said the idea of meeting with the Federal Directors Forum will further strengthen the bond of love among the people and allow for sharing of ideas. Adding that it would also give economic and socio-political impact on the state.

He then call for the sustainability of the meeting in order to bring about growth and development of the state. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta, who is the coordinator of forum, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu Bisallah commended the administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for the initiative and assured the state government of their readiness to assist and make impacts in the Niger State civil service.

Former Commissioner for Information in the state and director at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Alh. Aliyu Baba Barau and Alh. Yunusa Aliyu, a director in the Ministry of Solid Minerial, in their remarks noted that the State is endowed with a vast land for agricultural activities as well as mineral resources which they said if properly explored and considered would attract international investors , provide job opportunities and improve the socio-economic development of the state. 

Highpoint of the event was a presentation by the Commissioner for Finance,  Alh. Abubakar Zakari on the financial and development strides recorded since the beginning of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello's administration.