The Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku, has urged the federal government to work with North east states to develop the mineral resources which are on the exclusive list.
Ishaku, who stated this Tuesday at the Exco chamber, Government House, Jalingo, during the 5th meeting of the North-east Governor’s Furum said the North-east states are rich in solid mineral reserves that are yet to be exploited.
He noted that the solid mineral has a stable price on the international market, unlike crude oil and can help enhance and diversify the country’s economy.
He noted that in harnessing the oil and gas as well as solid minerals resources in the North east region for increased revenue, states and the federal government must avoid the mistakes of environmental contamination in the Niger Delta and lead poisoning in Zamfara state, by ensuring rigorous environmental impact assessment study, before mining activities commence.
He charged the North east governor’s forum to push for the removal of the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources from the exclusive list to the concurrent list.
“For instance, control over mining is delegated by the central government to regional authorities in South Africa, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Chile, Canada, and Australia just to mention but a few.
The South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 is a good example of how this could be resolved for the benefit of central and regional governments,” he said.
He stated further that the herders-farmers conflict has resulted in a high number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), mainly in Taraba state.
He said given to the Taraba state favourable climate, the ongoing problem has had a severe influence on agricultural output, as evidenced by the country’s high food prices.
He lamented that Insurgency, crime, and the persistent herder-farmer conflicts has no doubt have impacted negatively on the country’s youth unemployment and high crime rates.
“The North east region is one of the agriculture belts of the country.
We need to figure out which crops grow in each of our states and where we have a comparative advantage over our competitors.
In Taraba state, the government has promoted the cultivation of grains such as maize, guinea corn, and rice, as well as root crops like yam, cassava, and potato.
We are also leading producers of beniseed, soya beans, avocado pear, citrus fruits among others” he added.
He stressed that to increase the productivity of farmers, the North east governors must key into federal government’s agriculture intervention programmes and also encourage farmers to form cooperatives to access low-interest loan facilities and other incentives.
“This brings to mind the Great Green Wall plan, which aims to slow the spread of the Sahara Desert.
The initiative should stimulate the planting of economic trees that will provide food for people and also serve as fodder for animals.
Desert encroachment, unfortunately, has forced many people to migrate from the Sahel region to other parts of the country, therefore this African Union programme should be re-energized with the support of this meeting,” he stated.
He stated that the North East Governors Forum has established itself as a powerful voice in the Nigerian political arena.
He said the forum must continue to make conscious and deliberate efforts to keep the unique concerns at the forefront of national debate to achieve the desired recognition.
