Minna, Niger State — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Niger State, Dr. Mohammed Kpautagi, has raised concerns over what he described as a rising debt burden estimated at over ₦1.5 trillion allegedly accumulated by the Umar Bago administration between 2023 and 2026, warning that escalating insecurity should take priority over fresh borrowing.
Kpautagi made the remarks while reacting to the Niger State House of Assembly’s approval of a $14.4 million facility (over ₦20 billion) reportedly tied to a food security financing arrangement, urging lawmakers to exercise caution and ensure transparency in public debt decisions.
“Nigerlites deserve clear and comprehensive explanations on the necessity or otherwise of additional borrowings when the state is receiving substantial federal allocations, increased IGR, and revenue from local governments,” he said.
While acknowledging that borrowing for development is not inherently wrong, he stressed that it must be backed by accountability and sound economic planning to avoid long-term fiscal pressure on citizens and future generations.
He expressed concern that despite the scale of borrowing, insecurity remains a major challenge in the state, particularly in rural communities where farmers reportedly struggle to access their farmlands due to bandit activities.
“Crime and criminality are worsening, and farmers can no longer go to their farms with ease. Yet citizens are being left to suffer while government focuses on projects with limited impact on the wider population,” he said.
Kpautagi further argued that sustainable food security cannot be achieved without addressing insecurity, noting that farming activities across many communities have been disrupted by violent attacks.
He pledged that if elected, his administration would prioritize security collaboration with federal agencies to restore stability and ensure farmers can safely return to their fields, alongside reforms in the health sector to address rising medical costs.
The ADC candidate also joined other critics in questioning the recent borrowing plan, even as the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, defended the approval, explaining that the arrangement was a government-backed guarantee for Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics to access financing through a commercial bank under a structured credit line.
He maintained that the legislature acted within its constitutional mandate in approving financial instruments considered necessary for state development.
The development continues to fuel debate in Niger State over rising debt exposure, fiscal transparency, and the growing impact of insecurity on agriculture and rural livelihoods.
