Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has disclosed that more than 300,000 farmers have been displaced across 10 local government areas of the state due to insecurity.
Bago made this known while addressing journalists shortly after receiving humanitarian support from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, the Niger State Capital.
He said efforts to determine the exact number of displaced persons were still ongoing because of continuous attacks in the affected LGAs.
“For now, we can only give an estimate. On average, we have over 300,000 people displaced across Niger State in more than 10 LGAs affected by insecurity,” he said.
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The governor assured residents that the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government and security agencies to restore peace and enable victims to return to their communities.
On electricity supply, Bago advised residents dissatisfied with power from the national grid to consider switching to solar energy.
He revealed that the Government House, the State Secretariat and public hospitals had already disconnected from the national grid and adopted solar power systems.
He, however, blamed poor revenue collection on customers’ failure to settle their bills with the distribution company.
According to him, about 180 communities in the state have exited the national grid by adopting solar energy to ensure more stable supply.
Defending the regular power supply to consumers on 33kva, the governor said electricity tariffs vary across bands, with Band A customers paying significantly higher rates than those on Bands B and C.
“We must call a spade a spade. We cannot politicise what is right. Those on Band A pay far more than others. If you want improved service, you must be ready to pay for it,” he said, likening electricity payments to recharging mobile phones.
On water scarcity, Bago said his administration inherited deteriorated water infrastructure, which it is currently rehabilitating.
He disclosed that the state spends about N100 million monthly on electricity to pump water into the main pipeline for distribution.
The governor added that boreholes were being drilled in communities under the Ward Development Projects Initiative to ease the shortage, noting that ongoing road construction in the state capital has further compounded the situation.
