News Investigators/ The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have commended Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago for initiating the New Niger Development Project (NNDP), describing its institutional framework as a major innovation in accelerating development project implementation.
The commendation was given during a courtesy visit by the IsDB project preparation mission to Bago at Government House, Minna.
It would be recalled that the preparation mission of the Smart Education Transformation Project took place from 9th – 11th November 2026
The Head of the Federal Ministry of Finance delegation, Mr. Idris Dahiru Barde, said the centralised Project Implementation Unit (PIU), established under the NNDP, had improved coordination, reduced bureaucratic
bottlenecks and strengthened project delivery.
Barde disclosed that the Minna-Bida Road Project, funded by IsDB, had achieved approximately 75 per cent implementation within two years, describing it as the best-performing IsDB-funded project in Nigeria.
This has now placed the project PIU as the best-performing PIU in the IsDB portfolio based on the recent project assessment in October 2026, in fact, most States were asked to under study Niger State PIU to improve their project delivery.
He attributed the achievement to Bago’s leadership, effective coordination and the state’s commitment to timely project delivery.
He noted that the NNDP’s institutional structure would also support the effective preparation and implementation of subsequent IsDB-funded
projects, including the proposed Smart Education Transformation Project.
Similarly, the Operations Team Leader of IsDB, Mr. Imtiaz Alam, commended the governor for his administration’s commitment to development and the effective partnership established through the NNDP.
Alam disclosed that IsDB was set to establish five modern smart boarding schools in Niger under its 110 million-dollar Smart Education Transformation Project (SmartEdu).
The project, which also covers Yobe and Jigawa States, is aimed at modernising educational infrastructure, strengthening digital learning and expanding access to quality education.
Aisha Hussaina Abdulmalik, Information Officer of NNDP, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna on Thursday.
Alam explained that the delegation was in Niger for technical consultations and engagements with relevant government officials ahead of the project’s implementation, expected to commence in December 2026,
subject to the completion of preparatory activities and necessary
approvals.
He said the proposed schools would be equipped with modern educational facilities, digital learning infrastructure and other essential amenities.
He also acknowledged the bank’s ongoing interventions in Niger, including the Minna-Bida Road Project, Bilingual Education Project and proposed 100-megawatt Solar Energy Development Project.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NNDP, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-Bida Sarkin Dawakin Nupe, assured the IsDB delegation of the state government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and speedy project preparation process without unnecessary administrative bottlenecks.
Mustapha-Bida outlined the programme of activities, including the presentation of a preliminary study detailing the proposed school components and estimated costs, followed by the bank’s financing plan and discussions on implementation and project readiness arrangements.
He also led the delegation on assessment visits to selected educational institutions and proposed project locations, including Limawa Central School, UBEC Smart School, Niger State Teacher Professional
Development Institute and the Bilingual School.
The exercise also covered an assessment of the state’s public financial management capacity and institutional readiness.
In his re marks, Gov Mohammed Umaru-Bago appreciated IsDB and the Federal Ministry of Finance for their continued partnership and support for
the New Niger Agenda.
He noted that the bank had remained a strategic development partner since his administration assumed office in 2023.
The governor particularly commended IsDB for its grant support towards the construction of three bilingual schools in Minna, Bida and Suleja.
He disclosed that the Bida school had been completed and would soon become operational, assuring the delegation that the state government would recruit teachers and other personnel to ensure its effective take-off and sustainability.
On the Minna-Bida Road Project, Bago expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded, noting that its implementation approach had received
commendation at the bank’s State Coordinators’ Meeting and was recommended for other states to understudy.
He further acknowledged the bank’s support for the proposed 100-megawatt Solar Energy Development Project, describing it as a strategic investment that would strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial
development and accelerate economic growth.
The governor described SmartEdu as another significant milestone in the state’s development partnership with IsDB, emphasising that education remained a major priority of his administration.
He said the five proposed smart boarding schools would expand access to quality education, particularly for children from less privileged backgrounds, through modern digital learning tools, ICT infrastructure
and other essential facilities.
Bago assured the delegation of the government’s full technical, institutional and administrative support throughout the project’s preparation, appraisal and approval stages
The governor also appealed to IsDB to expedite consideration of additional development proposals submitted by the state government under the New Niger Agenda.
The proposals include Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development, estimated at 145 million dollars; Water, Sanitation and Urban Development, estimated at 598 million dollars; and Agricultural Development, estimated at 500 million dollars.
The three proposals have a combined estimated financing requirement of 1.243 billion dollars. These particular facilities are expected to be utilised
to provide a final solution to water and sanitation challenges in all the urban cities in Niger State, particularly Minna township, by connecting a
reticulation from Zungeru Dam.
The facility is to be made to blossom during the dry season as a catalyst to global environmental
challenges and to support all year farming mechanisms.
The governor said the projects would promote digital transformation, improve access to essential services, strengthen urban infrastructure and enhance agricultural productivity.
He requested an update on their status and assured the bank of the state’s readiness to provide additional documentation and technical support
required for their assessment.
The engagement further highlighted the growing partnership between Niger and IsDB in road infrastructure, bilingual education, renewable
energy and the proposed Smart Education Transformation Project.
Bago reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the partnership with IsDB and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration would attract further investments and deliver lasting development benefits to the people of Niger.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Hadiza Mohammed, described the project as a timely intervention that would provide safe, well-equipped and technology-driven learning environments for students.
She explained that the proposed schools would cover basic and senior secondary education, with modern digital learning facilities, reliable electricity, water supply and capacity-building programmes for teachers and school administrators.
Mohammed appreciated IsDB, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for their contributions towards facilitating the project and selecting Niger as a beneficiary state.