By Correspondent in Minna.
A Former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Niger State, Dr. Abdulhameed Umar Danladi, has urged Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s administration to make adjustments where necessary and exercise caution in implementing policies that negatively impact citizens, especially in light of the harsh economic realities.
Dr. Abdulhameed emphasized that the core purpose of government is to safeguard the welfare of its people.
He warned that when the protection of citizens’ lives and property becomes secondary, the government risks losing the support of the people, which could lead to serious repercussions.
In an interview with our correspondent in Minna,Abdulhameed acknowledged that Governor Bago is making efforts, particularly with ongoing road construction projects in Minna metropolis.
However, he pointed out that the negative effects of these initiatives are taking a toll on the citizens, arguing that the government should not subject people to further suffering.
simply to be seen as “working for the people.”
He provided specific examples, noting that the road construction has led to the spread of airborne diseases, respiratory issues, and disruptions in water supply.
Abdulhameed further urged the Governor to avoid compounding the frustrations of the majority of Minna’s population with policies that seem to ignore the needs of the masses.
As the current Special Adviser on Diaspora Affairs to the Governor of Kano State, Abdulhameed also called on Governor Bago to find immediate solutions to the acute water shortage affecting Minna and its surrounding areas.
He suggested that while road construction projects are underway, the government should have organized a water distribution system to alleviate the suffering of citizens in the interim.
“You are constructing roads, which is commendable, but the situation is adversely affecting people’s living conditions. With no water supply, the government should have made provisions for water distribution to citizens until the construction is completed,” Abdulhameed said.
He also expressed concern over the lack of strategic planning in the road construction process, suggesting that the work should have been done in phases; finishing one section before moving to the next, rather than disrupting the entire state capital and crippling socio-economic activities.
Abdulhameed also expressed concern about the state’s new policies aimed at regulating land and housing, stressing that such policy has increased tensions between landlords and tenants.
He questioned how many homes the government had provided before implementing such policies, arguing that the new law would lead to landlords raising rents, even for uninhabitable properties.
He warned that tenants would likely be forced to pay higher rents than the government-imposed tax on landlords.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
