Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago of Niger state on Tuesday secured the approval of the State House of Assembly for a N20.4 billion loan application to develop a large-scale irrigated farming scheme in the state. 

The facility worth $14.45million under the Saudi EXIM Line of Finance will support the activities of the Niger Food Security Systems and Logistics Company and improve the food security programme in the country.

 In this letter to the Speaker of the House, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) who is the banker assisting the transaction requested the parliament’s approval for a bank guarantee in favor of the bank. The Speaker presented the letter in plenary which was read by the Speaker before the members.

The governor explained that the proposal had been considered and approved by the State Executive Council at its 563rd meeting on May 18, 2026, before being sent to the Assembly for action.

 He said the financing mechanism is within the ambit of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and state laws on public borrowing.

 The loan offered by the governor is to be paid over seven years with an 18-month grace period. The money will be used to expand the activities of the Niger food security systems and logistics company, especially by setting up a 3,000-hectare irrigated farm estate in the Paikoro Local Government Area.

The project will be expected to improve the agricultural food production capacity, improve agricultural logistics, and contribute to the state goal of achieving sustainable food sufficiency. 

The lawmakers cleared the path for the state government to be allowed entry to the facility and to begin work on the project during an executive session when they unanimously approved the request behind closed doors.

The post Niger Lawmakers Approve N20.4bn Loan to Develop Large-scale Irrigated Farming  first appeared on AgroNigeria.