Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has shed light on the root causes of the persistent insecurity plaguing his state, linking it directly to its massive land size and expansive forest areas.
In an interview with TVC, Bago explained that Niger State accounts for a remarkable 11 percent of Nigeria’s total land mass, making it one of the most geographically significant states in the country.
“These security issues did not start today,” Bago said. “We have big land size. Eleven percent of the total size of Nigeria is Niger State. I have a local government Borgu LGA that is bigger than the entire southeast in Nigeria. So it has a forest reserve there, wildlife reserve there, and those lands have been there for a long time and they have become dangerous.”
Bago pointed out that while the large size of the state is a blessing in terms of natural resources, fertile land, and agricultural potential, it also poses a significant security challenge. The vastness of the state provides criminals with easy hideouts, making policing and surveillance difficult.
According to him, the state has several forest and game reserves that were once tourist attractions and sources of revenue but have now been converted into operational bases for bandits and other criminal gangs.
“These forests are no longer just empty lands; they are active hideouts where criminals plan and launch attacks,” the governor lamented.
To address the problem, Bago revealed that his administration has initiated an ambitious land-clearing program aimed at reclaiming these ungoverned spaces and turning them into productive areas for farming and development.
“Our government has started a major plan to clear 250,000 hectares of land every year. The target is that in four years, we would have cleared 2 million hectares,” Bago stated.
“This is not just about security; it’s about making the land economically useful and opening up communities for development. Once these bushes and forests are cleared, criminals will no longer have where to hide.”
The governor stressed that the strategy is a comprehensive one that combines security operations with socio-economic development. He said opening up the land will also create opportunities for commercial agriculture, job creation, and rural industrialization, thereby addressing some of the root causes of insecurity.
Bago also called for greater support from the federal government, security agencies, and development partners to sustain the effort.
“Niger State is too big to be left alone to handle this. We need collaboration at the federal level because this is not just a Niger problem; insecurity here affects the whole country,” he emphasized.
He expressed optimism that with consistent land-clearing efforts and sustained security operations, the state would soon be rid of criminal elements.
“The goal is to make Niger State safe, productive, and attractive for investors and residents. This is the only way we can break the cycle of insecurity,” he said.
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