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Speeches-
De-Industrilisation of Northern Nigeria, the Way Forward
A communique issued at the end of a two-day conference
on “De-Industrialisation of Northern Nigeria: Which Way
Out?” organised by Leadership Conferences Limited, a
subsidiary of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group, at the
International Conference Centre, Abuja, on March 4 and
5, 2008
Introduction:
The conference was declared open by the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, represented by
Ahmed Garba Bichi, Hon. Minister of State for Commerce
and Industries, under the Chairmanship of Lt. Gen.
Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), former Minister of
Defence.
The conference was attended by different segments of
society and a wide spectrum of discussants. Prominent
among them were the former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari (rtd), the Governors of Niger, Yobe and Zamfara
states, Deputy Governors of Borno and Bauchi states, and
representatives of the Kano and Taraba states’
governors. The minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, was present. Also in
attendance were the Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF),
Maj. Gen. IBM Haruna (rtd), and Chairman, Northern Union
(NU), Dr. Olusola Saraki.
Thirteen papers were presented by experts in the area of
public policy, industry, banking, and the academia. The
sessions were enriched by discussions, comments,
observations, questions and answers by the participants.
Attempts were made to provide direct answers and
solutions to some of the more probing issues raised.
The Conference observed the following:
1.
A combination of factors, including inappropriate
government policies such as trade liberalisation and
absence of subsidies and tariffs to protect Northern
industries, led to the collapse of industries and
agriculture in Northern Nigeria. This collapse is partly
responsible for the high incidence of poverty,
unemployment and other forms of anti-social activities
such as ethno-religious conflicts, thuggery,
prostitution and hopelessness.
2.
There exist a widening gender and generational gaps in
the North, leading to marginalisation.
3.
The region has, over the years, paid less and less
attention to industrialisation and the formulation of
policies that would engender such growth and
development.
4.
Owing to poverty and ignorance, a large number of the
North’s children are denied access to formal education,
thus worsening the Almajiri phenomenon. Northern
state governments over the years did much talking but
little action in the area of human capital development.
This is visible in the comatose state of most public
schools in the region and the calibre of students that
are produced from schools in the region.
5.
There is a substantial disconnect between the private
sector and government in the developmental efforts of
the North, thus leading to near-total dependence on
government by Northerners.
6.
There is need for more Northern businessmen and women
industrialists as well as investors to make concerted
efforts at establishing businesses including banks and
industries in the region.
7.
The North must realise that its agricultural potential
should form the basis for its industrial growth.
Neglecting agriculture is a sure recipe for disaster.
8.
Energy is a major challenge in the region. Its
near-absence has contributed to the death of industries
and the deepening crisis of de-industrialisation.
9.
Governors of the region hold all the aces in the
transformation of the area, especially given their
proximity to power and resources.
10.
The abolition of marketing boards led to the disastrous
situation of commercial activities in the North.
11.
The consolidation policy of the banking industry of the
Obasanjo administration dealt a deadly blow to the
banking sector in Northern Nigeria, thus leading to the
collapse of the banking industry in the region.
12.
The political problems of the Niger Delta region has
lingered for too long. This crisis has the potential of
threatening national unity.
Arising from the foregoing observations, the conference
arrived at the following resolutions:
1.
For industrialisation to be revived and sustained in
Northern Nigeria, it is necessary that governments in
the region formulate and implement policies that will
deliberately encourage and ensure the establishment of
industries, especially agro-allied ones. Special credit
facilities should be extended to farmers at
concessionary interest rates. There is urgent need to
re-introduce the Nigerian Agricultural Land Development
Agency (NALDA).
2.
The 19 state governors should design
special programmes that will integrate Northern women
and youths in development.
3.
For education and human capital development to be
achieved, the region must, as a matter of urgency,
declare a state of emergency in the education sector.
Both the private and public sectors must swing into
action to save the North from the educational quagmire
it has found itself.
4.
All the 19 Northern states must increasingly move away
from over-dependence on federation account funding and
explore more alternative financing initiatives geared
towards economic development and self-reliance.
5.
Northern businessmen and women should henceforth be
tasked to invest in the region. Northerners with funds
should invest in their states and, henceforth, are
expected to massively invest in the banking sector and
in agriculture and industry.
6.
The Federal Government should finance the South-to-North
gas pipeline under the new Gas Law, and it should be
vigorously pursued within four years.
7.
Oil and gas exploration in the North must resume
immediately. Studies have shown proven reserves in parts
of the North.
8.
There is need for a special ten-year tax holiday as
compensation for the revival of Northern industries.
9.
There is need for a public-private partnership for the
establishment of mega projects in Northern Nigeria. A
second refinery in Kaduna, a huge fertiliser plant in
Abuja/Kogi, as well as a petro-chemical plant in Kano
have become necessary. The Federal Government, through
the NNPC, should partner with the states and
foreign/local investors to fast-track this investment.
10.
Immediate steps should be taken to reintroduce
marketing/commodity boards, to ensure profitability and
price stability, and guarantee the quality of
agricultural produce. In this regard, the Abuja
Commodity Exchange should be supported, as is the case
of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.
11.
Clear and concise policies on tackling smuggling,
dumping of goods from foreign countries and the
protection of local industries must be placed on the
front burner.
12.
The 19 state governors of the North should collaborate
in generating solar and wind energy, which the North has
in abundance. This could prove to be an alternative
energy source for the North. Accordingly, state
governors should join hands to establish a solar panel
and tiles manufacturing factory in the North and when it
is established, there should be solar farms to generate
electricity in each and every local government area.
13.
Northern governors should encourage the Northern Nigeria
Development Company (NNDC) to immediately access the
private placement financing from Arewa investors and the
Nigerian capital market for funding their development
projects.
14.
Northern governors should embark on intensive
research on and production of biofuels, namely ethanol
and jatropha oil, for domestic and industrial
application. This programme will also assist government
in desertification control and massive job creation in
rural areas.
15.
The Federal Government should intervene and review
interest rates downward to single-digit figures to
support the growth of industries.
16.
Railways should be re-established and revitalised,
alongside the dredging of the Niger and Benue rivers.
17.
The 19 state governors should, in conjunction with the
private sector, explore their solid minerals potential.
This can be achieved if both foreign and local investors
are encouraged to invest in the sector within the next
four years.
18.
As is the practice in all advanced societies,
agriculture must be subsidised, especially here in the
North where it is the mainstay of the economy. Urgent
land reforms should be initiated to empower our rural
farmers by giving them title deeds (Certificates of
Occupancy) to their lands, so that they can access
credit for their empowerment.
19.
The Federal Government should urgently solve the Niger
Delta crisis.
GEN. T.Y. DANJUMA (RTD)
SAM NDA-ISAIAH
SULEIMAN YAHYAH
Chairman
Chairman,
Conference Director
leadership
Newspapers Group
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