By Rita Iliya
Government of Niger has unveiled its administration achievements with the various commissioners highlighting key achievements in their respective ministries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioners took turns, at a news conference on Thursday in Minna, to unveil their achievements in the last two years.

Dr Bello Tukur, Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, said that when the Bago-led administration came on board, the state was facing lack of medical doctors and healthcare workers and the governor immediately approved recruitment of 1,000 healthcare workers.

Tukur said the administration had employed 36 doctors, bringing the total number of doctors to 219.

He said the state government had commenced the remodeling and equipping of the IBB Specialist Hospital, with plan to installed an MRI machine, the first in a government hospital in Northern Nigeria.

He said the governor approved a 100 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical staff and aligned the entry point for doctors with the Federal Government practice, at CONMESS 3.

The commissioner added that the state government was working to address infrastructure challenges, including the fencing of General Hospital in Kuta and commencement of general renovation.

Also speaking, Dr Ibrahim Dangana, Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, said that before the coming of Bago children in 12 local governments had not been immunised.

Dangana said that as of now children in 11 out of the 12 local government areas had been immunized except those in Mashegu Local Government, which would be accomplished soon.

“We have built an emergency operations center with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” he said.

He added that the ministry had rehabilitated 20 primary healthcare centres, with plans to revitalise 40 more with the support from development partners.

Dangana said the governor recently inaugurated 20 level two primary healthcare centres, with a plan to build 100 primary healthcare centres across the state.

Also, Mr Elizabeth Shaba, Commissioner, Ministry for Small Medium Enterprise in Niger, said the ministry through the Micro Medium and Small Enterprise Agency had disbursed over N8 million so far under NG-CARES.

She added that the ministry also trained youths and women in entrepreneurship skills and empowered 200 youths with N100,000 each and provided loans to women under cooperative societies.

Similarly, Mr Musa Bawa, Commissioner for Agriculture, said the ministry provided extension services and mechanisation to Nigerlites and procured over 3,000 machines and equipment for agriculture.

Musa, who was represented by Malam Ali Maikasuwa, the Director of Agricultural Services, said the ministry also distributed fertilizers at 50 per cent subsidy, harvested over five million metric tonnes of grains, and trained farmers on carbon credits.

Also, Commissioner for Homeland Security, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Bello, said the administration of Bago had prioritised security because security was the primary responsibility of the government.

He said part of the achievements was the provision of operational vehicles for security agencies and shifted focus from kinetic to non-kinetic approaches.

Similarly, Dr Murtala Bagana, Special Adviser to Niger Governor on Special Duties, said the Bago-led administration had attracted foreign investment through his foreign trips with countries like Russia.

He said the state government had embraced agriculture and livestock for sustainable development and embarked on urban renewal projects through overhaul of road infrastructure amongst others.(NAN)
Edited by Joe Idika