By Sar Terver
When Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State stood before a gathering of stakeholders in Tafa and Suleja on August 11, he probably did not anticipate that his words would echo far beyond the hall.
Yet, a single statement, his declaration that he would continue borrowing to fund projects “even if it meant selling Niger State”, has since gone viral, stirring outrage, debate, and reflection on leadership and accountability in one of Nigeria’s most resourceful states.
The remark, bold and defiant, landed in the middle of growing concerns over Niger’s debt profile. For many residents, it was less about economics and more about tone: a governor who seemed to mock the very people he was elected to serve.
On X (formerly Twitter), one critic fumed: “Public funds are the people’s business. Niger isn’t your private estate to sell. Governance demands accountability, not arrogance.” Another user, Daniel Reger, added: “A governor is a public servant, not a sovereign. He has no right to talk down on people who question him or his government.”
The backlash spread to Nairaland, where a user posted: “Even if I sell Niger State, it’s not your business? Such reckless words show contempt for the people. Leadership is about stewardship, not ownership.”
On Reddit, a contributor wrote: “Most state governors are completely incompetent… the only thing they know how to do is ask for more revenue, and they consistently perform worse when more is given.” Another observed bluntly: “It’s not like they don’t have the resources, they just prefer corruption.”
The opposition also seized on the controversy. The PDP’s Vice-Chairman in Niger State, Yahaya Ability, warned: “Enough of the hardship caused by reckless borrowings. This administration is mortgaging the future of our children. The people must rise and reject inefficiency in the next election.”
The criticism is not without basis. According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Niger State’s domestic debt climbed from ₦86 billion in the first quarter of 2024 to ₦143 billion in the first quarter of 2025, a 67 percent increase within a year.
This sharp rise occurred even as states received higher allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), buoyed by oil price increases, the naira’s devaluation, and funds freed from the removal of fuel subsidy. For many citizens, the natural question is: why borrow more when revenues are already up?
Governor Bago, however, insists that his administration is cleaning up a mess it did not create. Responding to criticism over poor schools, hospitals, and roads, he argued: “They said schools, hospitals and roads have gone bad. Is it my administration that caused it? We are repairing what we met.”
In a way, Bago is right—many of Niger’s infrastructure challenges predate his tenure. But critics argue that leadership is not about blame but about solutions. And when he suggested that citizens should “wait until after his tenure” before demanding accountability, it struck many as dismissive.
“There is no law that prevents citizens from questioning their leaders before the end of their tenure,” a political analyst noted. “Accountability is daily. A governor is under obligation to respond to his people anytime”.
This is not the first time Bago’s leadership style has raised eyebrows. Earlier in August, his government ordered the shutdown of Badegi FM, a private radio station in Bida, accusing it of incitement.
The move caused widespread condemnation from media rights groups, who described it as an attack on press freedom. “Trying to shut down a radio station because you don’t like their criticism is the height of dictatorship,” another online commentator remarked.
Interestingly, Governor Bago has not always been seen in this light. He has previously won praise for promoting religious harmony and advancing agricultural partnerships, particularly with Lagos and Zamfara states, to position Niger as a major food supplier.
These efforts once earned him applause as a reform-minded leader. But his recent combative posture—whether in borrowing rhetoric or media clampdowns—has overshadowed those gains.
To some, it paints the picture of a leader at odds with the very principles of democracy: accountability, transparency, and respect for dissent.
Niger State’s story is, in many ways, Nigeria’s story. Leaders inherit longstanding problems, but citizens, burdened by poverty, unemployment, and failing infrastructure, are impatient for change.
In this digital age, where every word can be replayed endlessly online, tone matters as much as policy. As the debt figures climb and the controversies mount, Governor Bago faces a test not only of his fiscal prudence but also of his ability to govern with humility.
Borrowing, after all, is not inherently bad if it funds projects that improve lives and drive growth. But borrowing “at all costs,” without clear accountability, raises fears of mortgaging the state’s future.
For now, Niger people are not just questioning the numbers; they are questioning the attitude. And that may prove a bigger hurdle for Governor Bago than any balance sheet.
