Vatsa faults Bago over N18.2bn hospital project and questions N1.5tn loan

Jonathan Tsadó Vatsa, a former Niger State information commissioner, criticised Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago over the alleged rise in the cost of remodelling IBB Specialist Hospital from N11.8 billion to N18.2 billion, despite the project remaining incomplete. He called for accountability over the additional N6.4 billion and questioned the use of an alleged N1.5 trillion state loan, asking what happened to N1 trillion after N500 billion was reportedly earmarked for road projects. Vatsa said road projects had been abandoned and alleged that the Niger Food programme had yielded no grain in three and a half years. He warned that the state’s debt could burden future generations and also criticised the APC’s national governance record.