Niger State Government, yesterday, said it had paid over N205 million examination fees of the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which was owed by the previous administrations.

Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, gave the hint at an interactive session with journalists at the Government House in Minna.

Wakaso also said that the government would be paying N30 million monthly to the National Examinations Council (NECO) to pay off the backlog of the SSCE fees owed by previous administrations.

“I am glad to inform you that Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has graciously paid N205,016,005 outstanding debt to WAEC, and the candidates have been able to access their examination results,” she said.

She said the government had taken delivery of some Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for free transportation of students and at a subsidised rate for civil servants as part of palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Meanwhile, the state has said that it plans to revitalise the Information Geographic Information Systems (NIGIS) to enable it to meet up with global best practices.

Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Maurice Magaji, who disclosed this while addressing journalists at the briefing, said the component of land registry would be created to electronically issue land titles, thereby making the process stress-free.

Magaji said that the ministry would make efforts to clear the backlog of applications for Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) left behind by the immediate past administration.

Also, Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment Programme, Hauwa Bako Mohammed, said the state government would round the clock to sustain the social investment programmes initiated by the Federal Government.

She said about 50 youths from the state had been engaged in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for three months training on soilless farming, cutting-edge green house technology, hydroponics, and the seamless integration of artificial intelligence in agriculture, facilitated by MasterCard Foundation
Bako said when the youths conclude the training and return; there would be a step-down training to other youths in the state on skills in modern agricultural practices to bring about holistic development and sustainability of the sector.