Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has criticized those questioning his decision to take loans.
He argued that it is not the public’s business even if he decides to sell the state to raise funds for development projects.
Residents have expressed worries over the state’s financial management, with debates circulating on social media about whether loans are being taken.
However, in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the governor, who spoke in Hausa language, stated that people dissatisfied with his government should wait for eight years before questioning his worth.
He said, “If I were to sell Niger State to raise funds for the state projects, what is your business?
“People should wait till after my eight-year tenure in office to question my worth, as I will be leaving the state with zero debt after eight years. I will also show you that this is what I met on the ground and this is what I’m leaving the state with.”
He made the remark on August 11, 2025, during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting for his second-term endorsement with Tafa, Gurara, and Suleja local governments.
Bago also addressed concerns about borrowing, stating, “People are worried I’m collecting loans, but I haven’t started acquiring loans yet.
“This is just the beginning, and for the past administrations that collected loans, what did they do with them?
“Why are people taking medication for my headache?”
Bago defended his administration against criticisms over infrastructure, saying, “They said schools, hospitals, and roads have gone bad. Is it my administration’s responsibility for it, or aren’t we just repairing what we met?
“People are posting and saying that just two years of my tenure, I have damaged schools, hospitals, and roads. We will not castigate one another because we belong to the same party; we are not fools.”
