Netizens have labelled Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, representing Niger East (zone B), as the enemy of the Nupe people and the Niger South (Zone A).
This comes after his comment in the House regarding the Baro-Katcha-Agaie Road project, where he argued that the construction of the road was unnecessary due to the non-existence of Baro Port, which the road is intended to serve.
“You are doing it because of Baro port, Baro port is not in existence,” Musa stated in a video, claiming that the road was being developed in a region with little to no economic activity.
A social media user, Yahaya Mohd Usman, expressed his discontent by asking, “Where was Sani on the day former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, former Niger state governor Abubakar Sani Bello, and all of you Senators and House of Representatives members went to Baro to commission the port that is not in existence?”
“Did you complain then as a Senator from Niger State?” he asked.
Usman further questioned Musa’s stance, stating that the people of Baro, Agaie, and Katcha live in the region and deserve infrastructure.
Another social media user, identified as Ordinary Ahmad, criticised Sani for his failure to support the Baro project during his first tenure in government.
“The same Sani are those that frustrated the Baro project, deceiving us that it will be completed soon,” Ahmad wrote, adding that Sani had the power to advocate for the project during his first term as senator.
Jibrin Bala Jibrin Yikangi, yet another social media user, pointed out two significant incidents involving Senator Musa.
“It was Sani who denied Zone ‘A’ the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Commissioner that my Principal, Malagi, facilitated,” Jibrin stated.
“It was Sani who also mobilised thugs to burn down North Central campaign office Malagi opened for Tinubu in Minna in December 2022.”
Jibrin accused Sani of undermining Zone A’s interests and fostering division.
In response, Senator Musa clarified his position in a statement, stating that his concerns were related to the allocation of funds in the 2025 budget. He argued that the N4.3 trillion allocated for road projects should be used strategically, prioritising roads with higher traffic and economic importance.
He clarified, “My concern was about fairness and the need for strategic prioritisation of road infrastructure based on economic viability, haulage, and vehicular traffic.”
Sani further explained that he never intended to suggest that parts of Niger State were less important, but he questioned why Baro-Katcha-Agaie Road, with minimal traffic, was given preference.
Sani reiterated his commitment to the development of Niger State, stating, “My commitment remains unwavering in the fight for the holistic development of Niger State, and I will continue to advocate for equitable and impactful projects that serve the best interests of our entire people irrespective of geographical locations.”
He expressed disappointment at the misrepresentation of his comments, adding, “Any attempt to twist my words to suggest that I am sidelining any part of Niger State is not only misleading but a deliberate attempt to distract the public from the real issue.”
