The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa disclosed this to newsmen in Minna on Friday, November 17.
According to him, the private company, Samzung, and Rakiyat Project Ltd. would supply the state with 500 Suzuki and Toyota Hiance buses through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Vatsa stated that the buses would be distributed to the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and ACOMORAN and put to use at a reduced transportation rate to the residents of the state.
Vatsa noted that the issue of transportation is a very pressing problem in the face of the increase in fuel prices and that the PPP arrangement shows the determination of the state government to reduce the hardship on the people.
He said that the state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago is embracing the concept of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) as one of the engines to achieve his dreams for a new Niger.
The Special Adviser stated that though naysayers are criticizing the dreams and projects of the Governor, it can be realizable if all hands are on deck and all political and elected officials set aside selfishness and focus on delivering the agenda of the Governor.
He said that PPP is the engine oil of genuine development all over the world stating that though the PPP project flopped in the previous administration, steps have been taken to ensure that everything responsible for the failure is taken care of.
He declared: “If we must achieve the desired results, then we must be ready to do things differently. It cannot be business as usual. High levels of corruption, nepotism, greed, selfishness, and lack of sincerity contributed to the failure of similar PPP arrangements in the state in the past.
“Still, this administration cannot condone such practices if we’re genuinely trying to develop and grow as a state in Nigeria. We have studied why such PPP arrangements had failed in the past, and this government will not allow such things to repeat themselves now. You cannot be doing one thing the same way and yet expect a different result.”
Vatsa also highlighted other areas where the government would focus on PPP arrangements including agriculture, health, security, and infrastructural development.
