Northern Nigeria: A suggested path to transformation (1)

By Aliyu Musa

Sequel to my article last week I received quite a few responses, some of which challenged me to step beyond criticism by unambiguously suggesting steps that might help in dealing with some of the problems noted. Peace, which we lack today in the entire country but more pronounced in the North, is a sufficient precondition for any meaningful development. Hence, my first suggestion is to tackle this monster.

Some three decades ago people in the North lived harmoniously in large and/or small communities. In Jos, for example, I was lucky to witness the final few years of that peaceful co-existence. But the Maitatsine violence of December 18-19, 1980 rang the first death knell. Since then no fewer than two dozens violent crises linked to either religion or ethnicity or both have been witnessed with very destabilising consequences.

To move on, factors that keep fuelling these violent crises must be fully resolved, either with the active participation of the federal government or not. As it is today no sane investor would risk his/her wealth and reputation by investing in much of this region. Not even those of Northern extraction.

Enduring solutions must be devised for the conundrums on the Plateau, Kaduna, Benue etc and most importantly the current insurgence by the Jama’atu Ahlihi sunnah Lid-dawati wal jihad group (Boko Haram) in the North-East. In respect of the Boko Haram violence the attempt by the highly respected Dr Ahmad Datti to broker peace talks that was abandoned when it emerged the government was insincere should be revived.

Northern leaders need to pick up the gauntlet to appeal to and reassure Sheikh Datti he would not be let down if he agrees to restart the process once again. Other well meaning Northern leaders should support this and other processes one way or the other. If peace returns, a colossal chunk of the problem is resolved.

Reviving the economy of the region should follow immediately. Northern governments need to agree to plough back a substantial part of their subvention from the federal government into the economy and/or invite local and foreign sponsors. As I discoursed last week, there is a huge amount of resources suffering neglect. Efforts should be geared towards exploiting those potentials fully. For instance, one of the states that announced the discovery of oil in the South-East recently began by inviting foreign experts and funded the cost of probing the prospect.

The North does not need to wait for the federal government to do this. While those that claimed the discovery of oil should be encouraged to further pursue the process with all seriousness, others need to explore other possibilities like solid mineral mining which at the minute is left in the hands of individuals.

The governments should either consider exploring and exploiting solid mineral resources with little support from private individuals or make it a joint venture in which private financiers are allowed to invest hugely with some government support. But care must be taken to ensure revenue accrues to the government especially through taxation.

Agriculture remains the region’s mainstay and must be pursued with total vigour. By all means industrial farming as is practiced in developing countries should be adopted. Farmers should be encouraged to actively participate by making available to them the most innovative agricultural technology and farming techniques. Appropriate training on the application of those should be considered and offered.

Investors could be invited to put their wealth into this project especially in the rich terrain of the Guinea Savannah, and if sincerely pursued the region’s agricultural industry would not only provide food for the country and for export but will also absorb a large part of the swarming population presently idling away or ruined by drugs and violence.

A direct corollary to the above is the possibility of reviving the crumbled textile economy, but certain variables must exist first. Cotton production is very vital to the resuscitation and survival of the industry just as power generation and good roads or alternative means of transportation. In the days of Kano and Kaduna textiles railway was the main means of transportation and both cities were major termini. It must be revived as an essential prerequisite.

Similarly, small businesses must be saved the cost of sourcing their own power either through government subsidies or direct intervention to provide alternative and reliable sources. Proper utilisation of the region’s hydro energy potentials and biofuel, which is also increasingly adopted worldwide, could be pondered. This trend, if emulated, could prove cheaper, simpler and more reliable.