As a result of the proximity of Suleja, a major city in Niger State, to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with its attendant effect on the physical, social and security situation in the country, the Niger State government is shopping for N84.3 billion to develop the ancient city.

The state commissioner for information, communication and strategy, Alhaji Dalandi Abdulhammeed said yesterday in Minna after the state's Executive Council meeting that the position of the government was coming on the heels of the memo presented by the governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The commissioner stated that the state government had already written to the federal government to jointly fund the projects proposed for Suleja.

He said, "In the proposal of the state government, the federal government is expected to provide N40.9 billion while the state government provides the balance."

Abdulhammeed listed the areas of urgent intervention to include water reticulation and distribution, health care delivery, waste management, sanitation, transportation and support facilities, as well as road network.

In the first phase, the commissioner revealed that water supply is expected to gulp N779.9 million, health N3.3 billion, waste management N624 million, transport N587 million, education N3 billion, while road network is N10 billion.

He said that the second phase would be pursued with the additional N10 billion for water supply and N3.3 billion for road network.

According to the commissioner, one of the strategies embarked upon by the government to improve the situation in Suleja is the ongoing urban renewal initiative to create a secure environment.

According to the memo, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has requested for 300 hectares of land for a housing programme along Suleja-Kaduna road.