Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago met with the Vice President of the IsDB, Mansur Muktar, to discuss needed development in the Bauchi state.
The symposium took place in Saudi Arabia at the Royal Guest Palace in Makkah.
The reconstruction and dualisation of the 83-kilometre Minna-Bida road, co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Abu Dhabi Development Fund, were among other issues that topped the discussions that happened today.
Governor Umaru Bago, who was among the entourage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Saudi Arabia, used the opportunity to deepen the already-established relationship between the State and IsDB.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda flanked Governor Umaru Bago, Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed and the Minister of Budget and Planning Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu during the discussions, which also focused on various collaborative areas.
Notably, 163 Million U.S Dollars has been earmarked for the Minna-Bida road project.
Out of the total amount, the Islamic Development Bank will provide 86.64 Million U.S Dollars, 44.76 Million from the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, while the Niger State Government is going to provide 31.6 Million U.S Dollars.
A startup workshop had also been organised for the project.
The project was originally announced in August this year when the governor mentioned that the construction of the road would promote various industries such as the agriculture industry, trade industry and many others.
Intriguingly, it is said that the state government has signed an agreement with a private firm named ‘BENIJ Nigeria Limited’ to provide consultancy services to the state for the successful completion of the project.
Furthermore, following the symposium, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago joined President Bola Tinubu, Governor Dikko Rada of Katsina State, and Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammad to perform lesser Hajj (UMRAH) in Saudi Arabia.
They used the opportunity to pray fervently for the peace and development of Nigeria as well as seek god guidance and wisdom as they continued in governance.