The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has called on Nigerians to be peaceful and united in the New Year.

In his New Year message issued in Minna, the state capital and signed by his spokesperson, Jibrin Baba Ndace, the governor said the country can only develop if all citizens shun violence and acts capable of disuniting the country.

“Our collective prosperity as a nation and as a people is uncompromisingly dependent on the unity and peaceful co-existence of the people,” the message read.

Addressing the people of Niger State, while acknowledging that 2015 was a particularly hard year in terms of security and economic development, Bello promised to remain focused and committed in implementing people-oriented policies in the coming years.

“As I wish Nigerlites a blissful New Year, I want to reiterate that my administration is going to work hard in the coming years to bring developmental projects towards the rapid socio-economic well-being of the people,” he assured.

The governor also called on traditional rulers to support the state government and assured of a smooth working relationship between all tiers of government in the state.