Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has dismissed public concerns over his administration’s borrowing plans, insisting that funding methods for state projects are his prerogative.
Speaking during an engagement with residents in Minna on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Bago reacted to criticisms that his government was piling up debts.
“They say I’m borrowing, but I’ve not started yet. Even if I sell Niger State to fund projects, it’s not your business,” he said.
In May 2025, the Niger State House of Assembly approved the governor’s request to raise ₦70 billion through bond issuance, part of a broader ₦100 billion programme expected to be raised over 10 years.
The funds, according to government documents, are earmarked for infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply, and road construction across the state.
Bago’s comments come against the backdrop of past criticisms of his fiscal strategy.
In March 2025, he admitted that taking a ₦1 trillion loan in 2023 for infrastructure projects may have been excessive, saying he would have opted for half that amount if given another chance.
READ ALSO:Niger State Assembly Approves New Academic Retirement Age Bill
Since assuming office in May 2023, Bago has positioned himself as a “farmer-governor” with an ambitious development agenda.
His administration has rolled out large-scale agricultural schemes and over 50 ongoing capital projects, including road networks and public facilities.
However, the heavy reliance on borrowing has fueled debate among residents and opposition politicians about long-term debt sustainability.
Despite the criticisms, the governor has maintained that his borrowing plans are necessary to fast-track development.
He also warned contractors in March 2025 that any company failing to meet deadlines on state-funded projects risked contract termination.
The state government insists that the bonds and loans are tied strictly to capital projects and will not be used to fund recurrent expenditure.
The governor has argued that without aggressive financing, Niger State risks being left behind in national development.
The case of Niger highlights a wider trend across Nigerian states, where subnational governments are increasingly turning to domestic bonds and loans to fund infrastructure amid dwindling federal allocations.