Garba Idris Abdullahi

Garba Idris Abdullahi is a Nigerian politician who contested the 2023 House of Representative Elections as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Niger.

Biography

Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba (born 6 September 1975) is a Nigerian politician. He is a member of the Federal House of Representatives (Nigeria), representing Kontagora/Wushishi/Mariga/Mashegu Federal Constituency. He was born on 6 September 1975.

He is an indigene of Niger State from Kontagora Local Government Area. He had his primary education in Baptist Primary School. He then went to Government Secondary School for his secondary education. For his tertiary education, he studied at University of Abuja.

Prior to becoming a member of the House of Representatives, he was a businessman. Abdullahi Idris Garba's political career began when he was elected into the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and later received another tenure in 2011 to 2015.

In the 2015 elections, he again re-contested for the Federal House of Representative under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). So far, Abdulahi Idris Garba is among the oldest serving members at the Federal House of Representatives.

Legislative interests include Education, Transportation, and Works. House Committee Membership and Chairmanship: Federal Representative at House of Representatives from May 2011 to date.

Chairman at Population Committee (Reps) from June 2011 to May 2015. Vice-Chairman at Agricultural Colleges and Institutions Committee (Reps) from June 2015 to May 2019.

Committee Member at Aviation Committee (Reps) until May 2015. Committee Member at Marine Safety, Education & Administration Committee (Reps) until May 2015.

Chairman House Committee at Federal Capital Territory (Reps) from July 2019 until May 2023. Chairman House Committee on Aviation (Reps) from July 2023 till date.

Party Positions

Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.

Agriculture

Launches the Irrigate Nigeria Project as a public-private partnership to develop small-scale irrigation and water catchment systems using modern technology to boost agricultural productivity.

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Security & Defense

Will deploy modern aerial surveillance and advanced technology to monitor and deter intrusions into oil pipelines, power stations, and other critical national infrastructure in real time.

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Environment & Climate

Accelerates the environmental cleanup and re-establishment of fisheries and profitable aquacultural activities in the Niger-Delta region to counter violent extremism and poverty-driven disaffection.

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Economy & Trade

Will implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and additional favorable policies to attract investment in deep-water assets within 6 months, including encouraging signature bonus negotiations and royalty reliefs.

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Infrastructure

Creates regional industrial hubs in specific zones (North West, North East, South East, South South, South West, North Central) to focus on labor-intensive manufacturing, with tailored investments (e.g., textiles, dry ports, glass, pottery, solid minerals, regulated mining).

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Enterprise grant support

Work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to simplify loan processes for commercial banks, mandate federally owned banks to provide low-cost loans to youth-led enterprises, and expand business incubation centers to support youth innovation.

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Energy

Will mandate gas metering equipment on all facilities where gas flaring occurs within 6 months and establish a special enforcement unit to monitor compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on gas flaring reduction, with non-compliance leading to financial penalties for affected communities.

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Governance & Reform

Reserve at least 3 cabinet positions for individuals under 40 and 6 more positions for members under the age of 40, and mandate that at least 20% of political appointments to Ministries/Dangomas (MDAs) be reserved for individuals under 40.

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Education

Raises the priority of addressing out-of-school children, establishes a task force to review and strengthen programs like school feeding, and aims to reduce disaffected youth recruitment by violent groups.

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Healthcare

Will establish a network of upgraded, equipped, and staffed general hospitals in every Local Government Area, tertiary facilities in each State, and world-class specialist hospitals in each geo-political zone to improve healthcare accessibility and quality.

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Technology & Digital

Supports the development of MSMEs through partnerships with fintech players to expand access to capital and business development services.

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Reliefs and scholarships

Commits to a conditional income support program requiring recipients to meet human capital goals (school attendance, healthcare, nutrition) in exchange for payments.

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