By Mohammed Baba Busu
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 Niger State governorship election, attention is increasingly turning to the records, public service engagements, humanitarian interventions and development proposals of individuals seeking to lead the state.
One of the political figures attracting attention in this regard is Alhaji Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Niger State, whose reported philanthropic activities, legal engagements and advocacy on development-related issues have featured in discussions about the welfare of communities across the state.
The legal luminary who holds traditional titles including Hukunchi Nupe and Hausaland and Madugu Lapai, has been associated with interventions in water supply, education, economic empowerment and humanitarian assistance, alongside legal efforts relating to the rights and economic interests of affected communities.
These activities provide an opportunity to examine the relationship between philanthropy, the protection of citizens’ rights, infrastructure development and the broader responsibilities of government.
One of the notable aspects of Ndarani’s reported philanthropic activities is the provision of more than 80 solar-powered boreholes in communities across Niger State.
The projects are intended to improve access to potable water, particularly in areas where residents face difficulties obtaining a reliable supply for domestic use, because as the saying goes world globally, “water is life”.
In many rural communities, women and children often bear a disproportionate burden when households must travel considerable distances to fetch water.
The availability of functional water facilities within communities can reduce this burden, improve convenience and support better hygiene.
Solar-powered boreholes also offer an alternative to water systems that depend entirely on conventional electricity or fuel-powered generators, although their long-term benefits depend on proper installation, maintenance and community management.
The broader significance of such interventions lies in their potential contribution to public health and community welfare.
However, sustainable access to water requires more than the installation of facilities. Regular maintenance, water-quality monitoring, technical support and clear arrangements for repairs are essential to ensure that communities continue to benefit from these projects over time.
Beyond water infrastructure, the learned silk, Ndarani has also supported women and youths through financial empowerment initiatives.
One of the reported interventions involved the distribution of ₦20,000 each to 400 beneficiaries, amounting to ₦8 million.
Although modest financial support may not independently resolve the wider challenges of unemployment, poverty and rising living costs, such assistance can help beneficiaries meet immediate needs or provide initial capital for small businesses and other income-generating activities.
For women and young people seeking to establish or expand small-scale enterprises, access to financial support can form part of a broader process of economic participation and self-reliance.
The lasting impact of empowerment programmes, however, depends on their reach, transparency, continuity and connection with other forms of support, including business training, access to markets and financial services.
For Niger State, where the expansion of economic opportunities remains an important development priority, such initiatives also raise a wider question about how philanthropic interventions can complement sustainable employment and enterprise-development programmes.
Education is another area associated with Ndarani’s humanitarian engagements.
He has reportedly provided scholarship support to no fewer than 120 students studying in various universities across Nigeria.
The intervention comes against a background of increasing financial pressure on many families struggling to meet tuition-related expenses, accommodation costs, transportation and other educational requirements.
For students from low-income households, financial assistance can help reduce some of these difficulties and enable them to concentrate on their studies.
Investment in education also has implications beyond the individual beneficiaries. Graduates who acquire relevant knowledge and professional skills can contribute to the development of their communities and the wider economy.
The reported scholarship initiative therefore forms part of a broader discussion about access to higher education, equal opportunities and the role of private individuals and organisations in supporting human capital development.
At the same time, the scale and long-term impact of educational support are best assessed through verifiable information on beneficiaries, the duration of assistance and the extent to which students are able to complete their studies.
Another significant humanitarian intervention attributed to Ndarani was his reported donation of ₦30 million to victims of the devastating floods in Mokwa.
During a condolence visit to the affected community, Ndarani expressed sorrow over the losses suffered by residents and called for greater public awareness and preparedness to minimise the impact of future flooding..
He was represented during the visit by Umar Sarki, Chief Executive Officer of One Word Magazine.
Beyond the financial donation, his message highlighted the importance of disaster-risk reduction, public education, early-warning systems, infrastructure investment and coordinated emergency response.
The Mokwa tragedy underscored the vulnerability of communities to flooding and the devastating consequences that disasters can have on human lives, homes, businesses and livelihoods.
Effective flood prevention and response require coordinated action by government agencies, local authorities, traditional institutions, community organisations and residents.
Drainage systems must be properly planned and maintained, waterways kept free from obstruction, and development activities carried out in accordance with relevant planning and building regulations.
Public awareness is equally important.
Communities need timely information about potential risks, evacuation procedures and practical measures for protecting lives and property.
Ndarani also called for appropriate budgetary provisions for disaster management and emphasised the need for a long-term approach combining infrastructure, capacity building and community participation.
He further referred to Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which addresses the protection and improvement of the environment and the safeguarding of water, air, forests and wildlife.
His intervention in Mokwa therefore combined humanitarian assistance with a call for stronger preparedness and preventive measures against future disasters.
The broader lesson is that emergency donations can provide immediate relief, but lasting protection requires effective public institutions, disaster-management plans, adequate resources and sustained community engagement.
Beyond philanthropy, Ndarani’s legal practice has also been associated with issues concerning environmental protection, community rights and compensation for losses arising from major infrastructure projects.
One prominent example is the case involving the Samboro community in Madaka District of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, whose residents pursued compensation over displacement and damage to their livelihoods associated with the Zungeru Hydropower Dam project.
The community’s village head, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, and 2,844 other residents approached the court on April 27, 2023, through their counsel, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, SAN, in suit number NSHC/KUT/6/2023.
The plaintiffs sought compensation over the loss of farmlands, homes and other sources of livelihood associated with the dam project and its environmental consequences.
In its judgment, the Minna High Court IV, presided over by Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed, reportedly ordered compensation of ₦1,150,595,047,288 for the affected community, in addition to ₦100 million in general damages and litigation costs, with post-judgment interest of 10 per cent per annum as stated in the judgment.
The judgment, as reported, attributed the hardship suffered by the plaintiffs to the consequences of the project, including flooding, environmental degradation and the destruction of their economic means of survival.
The case illustrates the important role that legal representation can play when communities seek redress for alleged environmental harm, displacement and the loss of property or livelihood arising from public infrastructure projects.
Large infrastructure projects such as dams can provide electricity, support economic activity and contribute to national development. However, the interests of communities directly affected by such projects must also receive appropriate consideration.
Compensation, environmental safeguards, resettlement arrangements and the restoration of livelihoods are important aspects of responsible infrastructure development.
The Samboro case consequently raises broader questions about how the benefits of major public projects can be balanced with the rights and welfare of host communities.
It is also important to distinguish between the delivery of a court judgment and its implementation. The practical outcome for affected residents depends on the enforcement of applicable orders and the actual delivery of any compensation awarded.
Ndarani is also reported to be pursuing a legal effort at the Supreme Court concerning the 13 per cent entitlement associated with electricity generation and the inclusion of Niger State in the relevant benefit arrangements.
The issue is significant to Niger State because of its strategic contribution to Nigeria’s electricity supply through major hydroelectric infrastructure, including the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro power stations.
The presence of these facilities has made the relationship between electricity generation, host communities, environmental impacts and the distribution of economic benefits an important subject of public discussion.
For residents of communities affected by power infrastructure, questions of compensation, development support and access to basic amenities remain particularly relevant.
Any claim concerning a state’s entitlement to a particular percentage of revenue or other benefits must, however, be assessed against the applicable constitutional provisions, legislation, established revenue-allocation arrangements and the precise reliefs sought before the court.
The status and outcome of the reported Supreme Court proceedings are also important in determining what entitlements may ultimately be recognised.
If the litigation succeeds in establishing a lawful basis for additional benefits to Niger State, the next consideration would be how such resources should be managed, allocated and applied to measurable development priorities.
These could include infrastructure, environmental remediation, community development and improved social services, subject to the legal framework governing any eventual allocation.
The central issue is therefore not only whether an entitlement exists, but also how any funds or benefits lawfully accruing to the state can be used transparently and effectively for the public good.
Another development issue associated with Ndarani’s advocacy is the activation of Baro Port in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.
The port has long been regarded as an important potential asset in discussions about inland water transportation, trade and economic development in the state.
Its effective operation could create opportunities for the movement of goods, agricultural produce and other commodities through inland waterways, subject to navigability, logistics, infrastructure and commercial viability.
For Niger State, with its considerable agricultural potential and strategic location in north-central Nigeria, a functional inland port could complement road transportation and support the development of markets for farmers and businesses.
The potential benefits may include employment opportunities, logistics services, investment in warehousing and the expansion of commercial activities around the port and connecting transport corridors.
However, the realisation of these benefits would require more than advocacy alone. It would depend on coordinated action by the relevant federal and state authorities, adequate funding, operational infrastructure, security, navigational facilities and the participation of private-sector operators.
The activation of Baro Port should therefore be considered within a comprehensive economic-development framework that identifies the investments required, the responsibilities of the relevant institutions and the expected benefits for surrounding communities.
Ndarani’s reported advocacy on the issue brings attention to the need to translate the port’s potential into practical economic opportunities for Niger State.
Beyond infrastructure development and economic advocacy, another significant aspect of the SDP Gubernatorial candidate’s public engagement is his advocacy for the constitutional recognition and roles of traditional rulers and direct autonomy for all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
Ndarani SAN is championing the inclusion of the roles of traditional rulers in the nation’s Constitution as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
The advocacy highlights the importance of traditional institutions in community leadership, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, cultural preservation and the mobilisation of citizens for grassroots development.
Traditional rulers remain important links between communities and public authorities, particularly in rural areas where they often have a close understanding of the needs, concerns and aspirations of their people.
Providing a clearly defined constitutional framework for their roles could strengthen their contributions to community development, while maintaining the democratic responsibilities of elected officials and the established constitutional powers of government institutions.
For Niger State, where traditional institutions continue to play a significant role in community life, appropriate constitutional recognition could enhance cooperation between traditional rulers, elected representatives and development agencies in addressing local challenges and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Closely connected to this advocacy is Ndarani’s call for direct autonomy for all 774 local government areas across the country.
The position reflects the importance of strengthening the third tier of government to make governance more responsive to the needs of citizens at the grassroots.
Local governments are strategically positioned to address essential development needs, including rural roads, primary healthcare, basic education, sanitation, markets and access to potable water.
However, their effectiveness depends on adequate resources, administrative capacity, accountability and the ability to implement projects that reflect the priorities of their communities.
Direct financial and administrative autonomy, exercised in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws, could empower local councils to plan and execute development projects more effectively, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays and bring decision-making closer to the people.
It could also strengthen citizens’ ability to monitor public expenditure and demand accountability from their elected local government officials.
Nevertheless, autonomy must be accompanied by transparency, prudent financial management, effective oversight and meaningful citizen participation to ensure that resources allocated to local governments translate into tangible improvements in the lives of residents.
Taken together, the reported interventions in water supply, education, economic empowerment and disaster relief, alongside legal representation for affected communities and advocacy on development infrastructure, roles of traditional rulers and local government authonomy present several dimensions of Ndarani’s public profile.
They also provide an opportunity to consider the different roles that philanthropy, professional legal services and government institutions play in addressing social and economic challenges.
Philanthropy can provide immediate support to individuals and communities. Legal advocacy can help citizens seek redress where they believe their rights have been violated.
Development advocacy can bring attention to infrastructure and economic opportunities requiring coordinated public action.
Nevertheless, the responsibilities of an elected government extend much further and that is why nigerlites should come out enmass and vote Ndarani SAN, the SDP Gubernatorial candidate come 2027 for the state to move forward.
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