Friday, 7 September 2012

Why the North must devise a survival strategy


By Aliyu Musa

Even at the risk of being dismissed as an incurable cynic current happenings in Nigeria leave one with no choice but to be less optimistic of the future of the country and much less of the North. Since the last general elections more voices of separation have surfaced while previously existing ones have gained more energy.

Except for the North, nearly everyone is either clamouring for secession or regional autonomy. And because the North appears reluctant on this matter it has been repeatedly dubbed a parasite and drawback on the entire nation. But the North cannot afford to continue to be silent and take in every insult. It must take a stand; one that would determine its own survival.

Kano, once the economic nerve centre of the region, was a principal terminus for the trans-Sahara trade and immensely earned revenue through groundnut and cotton production. It also housed a robust textile industry that offered employment to tens of thousands of Nigerians. That was before the oil boom of the late 1970s, which led to a complete diversion from these economic activities.

Today, the groundnut pyramids have all collapsed, cotton production diminished to an all time low and textile factories liquidated. Antithetically, Kano is now home to acute poverty and millions of frustrated youths that have taken to drug addiction to escape this glaring reality. If anything, Kano is as much a victim of Nigeria’s oil boom as the grumbling states of the Niger Delta.

Across the North abound stories of neglect and frustration, reactions to which come in various manners and degrees. Religious extremism and violent conflicts are, for example, partly blamed on poverty. But the very part of this analysis that has often been missed is the role played by the North in either causing this problem or aggravating it.

It is helpful to recall that Northern Nigeria occupies approximately two-third of Nigeria’s land mass, from the rich vegetation of the central region to the semi arid north-west and north-east. In this vast land some of the world’s major solid minerals are buried. Many of these minerals are in high demand in such emerging industrial countries as China and India.

For example a recent report shows that gold has been discovered in Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara, while manganese is found in Zamafara, Kebbi and Katsina. Silver is believed to be present in Kano just as Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Nassarawa and Plateau are rich in tantalite.

Other minerals resources discovered but ignored or underexploited are lead, uranium, magnesite, coal, limestone, columbite, gemstone, bauxite, zinc and so on. Of recent Niger, Kwara, Kogi and Sokoto have claimed striking oil and eagerly hope to join the league of Nigeria’s oil producing states.

Northern Nigeria is also a major contributor to Nigeria’s food and cash crops. For instance in the Sudan savannah and Sahel vegetation belts corn, rice, millet, cowpeas and crops that can withstand aridity like guinea corn are cultivated. Cotton and groundnut, which once oiled Kano’s industrial power, were the main cash crops.

Downwards, the north-central is aptly referred to as the food basket of the country because a substantial amount of its food crops comes from the Guinea savannah. Among the produces here are yam, cassava, sorghum (guinea corn), millet, cowpeas, corn and rice. It also produces cash crops like sesame as well as a range of fruits and produces that are found in temperate climates.

But the main problem is how to harness these resources and channel revenue accruing towards developing the region and make life better for its people. While northern politicians conveniently shift blames to an unfair revenue allocation formula truth is they are part and parcel of the problem.

If only agriculture had not been traded off for easy oil money the North would by now be conveniently feeding the nation and exporting food to other countries. And the recent threat by some glorified gangsters in the creeks to starve the north to death would have been more laughable.

Either as a part of a united Nigeria or an autonomous region or a separate country (in view of the threats to fragment the country) Northern Nigeria must begin to work out a survival strategy. A way forward is to ensure that peace returns by uniting its people irrespective of religion and tribe. The various leaders must then unite under a nomenclature to begin brainstorming, in consultation with the people, on how to transform the region into a major economic giant. There’s no time to waste as an implosion could become inevitable and catastrophic.
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3 comments:

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15 September 2012 at 11:21
Anonymous said...

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18 October 2012 at 05:00
Anonymous said...

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29 October 2012 at 10:55

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