Niger State Government has advocated for the establishment of a Special Joint Planning Area with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as Niger State embarks on the development of Suleja Smart City.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane disclosed this when he met with the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammad Musa Bello at the Conference Hall of the Ministry in Abuja.
Ahmed Matane further requested that a standing FCT-Niger State Committee on boundary and related disputes in Dakwa, Madalla, Tufa and Bwari be established in order to resolve the lingering boundary disputes in the areas.
The SSG stressed the need for the establishment of a Metropolitan Development and Management System covering FCT, Nasarawa and Niger States with a view to harnessing the tremendous economic potentials of the areas as well as attract investors to participate in the development of large scale socio-economic development projects.
He informed the Honurable Minister that the decision by the Niger State Government to develop Suleja Smart City on 11,000 hectres falls within the Abuja-Bwari Planning District as contained in the Master Plan of FCT, Abuja.
The SSG told the Minister of FCT that the State Government has concluded the process of establishing Suleja Smart City Company aimed at developing and managing the Smart City.
Ahmed Matane enumerated the scope of the Smart City to include assembly plant for renewable energy systems and components, training Institute for the youth to learn how to assemble, repair and market renewable energy systems and components among others.
According to the SSG, the component of Suleja Smart City Projects are advanced meter infrastructure-allows, a two-way communication between service provider and customer using a smart phone, small street lights with LED-powered lights with internet connectivity to enable fault reporting and localized adjustment of light intensity and colour and CCTV with motion detecting cameras mounted on the Smart Street Light poles to enhance citywide security.
Others are open data to be used by the citizens to monitor and evaluate the level of service offered by the State and Local Government, engagement and empowerment of citizens to actively participate in urban governance.
In his remarks, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mohammad Musa Bello divulged that the Suleja Smart City Project is a legacy project that is going to be a life time experience.
The Minister commended the State Government for the initiative, stressing that what is happening is a natural continuation of the development of FCT.
Musa Bello assured the SSG that FCT Authority will support the State Government with a view to making the Suleja Smart City Project becomes a reality.
He disclosed that relevant departments of the Ministry will look at the requests submitted by the State Government in order to give the project the desired attention it needed.
The Secretary to the State Government was accompanied by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Barrister Mouktar Nasale, Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs, SSG’s Office, Yahaya Babawachiko, Coordinator, Niger State Urban Support Programme, Professor Mustapha Zubairu, Engineer Sani Alhassan, former Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority and Hon. Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, Chairman, Suleja Local Government Council.
