Niger plans ‘smart city’ near Suleja

The Niger State government says that it has concluded plans to build a new ‘Smart City’ near Suleja, on the proposed bypass between Minna-Suleja road and Zuba, along Kaduna–Lokoja highway. Th e ‘Smart City’, according to the state government, would help decongest Minna, state capital as well as strengthen the capacity of the state’s physical planning institutions for effective development and management of cities.

Th e State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who disclosed this at the Second International Conference on National Urban Policy held at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, France, said it is part of a four-pronged initiative meant for the comprehensive development of the state. Speaking while unveiling the state government’s plans for structural and physical development of the state at the conference, Bello said the programme is being undertaken with technical assistance from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat).

Further, he said it would involve in preparation of a Niger State Urban Development Policy (SUP), based on the National Urban Development Policy, 2012, preparation of Integrated Development Plans for Minna, the state capital; and the city of Suleja, which lies on the state’s border with Abuja, the Federal Capital. “Since I assumed duty as the Executive Governor of Niger State in May 2015, I have come to the conclusion that the eff ectiveness and sustainability of our towns and cities are hinged on their level of good governance, especially transparency and accountability to their residents; and their ability to operate on a self-sustaining basis.

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