The Niger State chapter of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has questioned the whereabouts and condition of more than 250 CNG-powered buses reportedly acquired by the state government, alleging that the vehicles have been left to deteriorate at the Trade Fair Complex in Minna, the state capital.
The party said the buses, which were expected to provide cheaper transportation for residents following the removal of the fuel subsidy, had yet to serve their intended purpose despite being purchased with public funds.
In a statement issued on Monday, Jonathan Vatsa, spokesperson of the SDP Governorship Campaign Council, accused Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of failing to protect public investments.
Vatsa, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, alleged that the buses had remained at the complex for over three years, with their components reportedly vandalised and the vehicles exposed to further deterioration.
The party questioned why the government would commit public resources to acquiring the vehicles only to leave them unused, describing their condition as evidence of what he called the administration’s disregard for public funds.
“What can the governor tell the people of this state as to the reason for allowing those buses purchased with state resources to waste away at the Trade Fair Complex?” he asked.
The SDP spokesperson extended the criticism to other government projects, alleging that several had been abandoned despite improved revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account.
He also accused the administration of giving greater attention to private businesses and farms than to publicly funded projects, claiming that the latter had suffered from inadequate funding.
Vatsa called on residents to consider the state government’s record on project delivery when making their political choices in the 2027 elections.
According to him, “In 2027, the people of this great state have a choice to make, either to remain stagnant with abandoned projects staring them in the face and unpayable loans, or choose the path of progress.”
He said Niger State needed a government that would complete projects and account for public resources rather than accumulate loans while leaving public investments unused.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the state governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, were unsuccessful, as he could not be reached for comments at the time of filing this report.