Niger State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) for US$114 million in financing to support four projects in the north-central Nigerian state

The projects to be financed are the construction of the Madalla-Suleja-Maje dual-carriage road (US$30m); eight trailer parks in the towns of Makwa, Tapa, Lambatta, Bida, Makera, Dikko, Tagina and Kontagora ($43m); the Madalla Green Economic Market (US$11m); and the conversion of the former secretariat building into a school of medical and health sciences (US$40m)

According to the state government, the agreement, which was signed at the Ecowas Investment Forum in Togo in early April, will not only complement the ongoing infrastructure transformation in the state, but will also create new windows for investments and job opportunities for young people

Also this month, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago officiated at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 118km of road projects in Kontagor

The projects include the reconstruction of the 90km Kontagora-Rijau road, which will be undertaken by the local Triacta Nigeria, and the construction of the 19.4km Kontagora Western bypass ring road and the 8.7km Kontagora Eastern bypass ring road, which will be executed by the local Brosini Nigeri

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Bago said the federal government has also approved the reconstruction of the 41km Kakkaki-Minna road and the 91km Rofia-Borgu road

In April, Bago also disclosed that the state government plans to renovate and equip all government schools and primary healthcare centres across the state.