As the Governor Ahmed Aliyu administration of Sokoto state is now presumably devoid of any distraction sequel to the conclusion of election litigation in his favour at the nation’s apex court, it should face the business of governance. It is, therefore, imperative to remind the governor of what is expected of him in providing good governance within the realm of education, health, employment rates and gender equality which measure the well-being of the people. I will align with the definition of good governance as “legitimate, accountable, and effective ways of obtaining and using public power and resources in the pursuit of widely accepted social goals”. This definition not only links good governance with the rule of law, transparency and accountability, but goes ahead to embody partnerships between state and society, and among citizens. For good governance to be achieved in Sokoto state, in view of the above definition, the government should guarantee efficient utilisation of our resources which must be free from corruption, the ultimate outcome of which is the provision of food, shelter, security and the protection of human rights of the people of Sokoto state.
It has always been my desire for Sokoto state to be blessed with a governor that will lay a foundation for achieving a sustainable development that will usher in an economically independent state. In as much as I do recognise and appreciate the numerous projects executed and infrastructure bequeathed to the state by the past democratic administrations, it is regrettable to that some of these projects were merely white elephant projects and not addressing the basic needs of the electorate and, thus, regarded by many as misplacement of priorities considering the economic status of the people in which many live below the poverty line. It has unfortunately become the order of the day for elective office holders in the state to place emphasis on eye-catching infrastructure, paying little or no attention to service delivery and viable projects that will in the near future or long run impact positively and change the negative narrative of our worrisome poverty index in the state. It is high time, therefore, this administration embraced a paradigm shift for the attainment of sustainable development in the state.
Therefore, this piece focuses on viable economic investments and endeavours that could be embarked upon by the Aliyu’ administration towards making Sokoto state economically sustainable and independent. It is an incontrovertible fact that other indicators of development ranging from education, health, employment rates to gender equality are all predicated on sound economy which is also the product of a good governance. The earlier we realise the danger it portends for us to solely rely on monthly FAAC revenue, the better. Even though, I do recognise the fact that, the state is bedeviled with security challenges as a result of banditry, Sokoto state is bestowed with vast arable land for farming. We are also blessed with abundant mineral resources that could be explored to boost the fortunes of the state. If other states could partner with investors and establish state-owned corporations, I believe Aliyu could do same.
The Sokoto Independent Power Project (IPP) started by former Governor Aliyu Wamakko that was abandoned after gulping a collosal amount of money comes to mind. The Aba Independent Power Project (IPP) is the first integrated power utility in Nigeria designed to generate and distribute its own electricity. The project is presently owned by the Project Developer/Sponsor: Geometric Power Limited, Aba Power Limited, and other investors including the state government. Sokoto state government should not allow the huge investment made in the state IPP to go down the drain. That waste of resources is uncalled for, at this critical time when the state can leverage on such investment. The state should call for an expression of interest from partners that are reliable and possess the expertise to revive the IPP.
On agriculture, investors including Dangote Group, have indicated interest in establishing rice and sugar factories in Kware and Goronyo local government areas. The construction of such factories had started and for years they are yet to see the light of the day. Governor Aliyu should emulate the former Governor Bukola Saraki administration of Kwara state who established the Shonga Farm in 2004 where some white farmers were brought from Zimbabwe. Even though, insecurity is currently our major challenge, we should not give up to plan towards sustainable development in our dear state. Creating an enabling environment through the provision of security and basic infrastructures in Kware and Goronyo and other parts of the state can boost the farming activities of even our own local commercial and peasant farmers to produce enough rice and sugarcane for the ongoing Dangote rice and sugar factories in Kware and Goronyo LGAs.
The Sokoto government initiated a regional cattle ranch in Rabah which has also been jettisoned. The N3 billion project that was to initially cover 1000 hectares with capacity to cater for 10,000 cattle with capacity to turn around the quality of animal husbandry in Sokoto state as well as neighbouring West African countries. The ranch has milk yielding breeds from Brazil as well as the beef yielding species from Argentina. The project also aims at realizing N2bn annually and will definitely raise the state IGR. A lot of capital and human investments were made in this project which was divided into three phases and one of the critical sections is the first one being the technical transfer, which has to do with the training of staff that will maintain the project. Six local technicians were sent for foreign training in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Will the Aliyu administration allow this huge investment to also go down the drain?
ln November, 2015, barely 5 months into his administration, the immediate past governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, visited Erisco Foods factory in Lagos. Its founder and president, Chief Eris Umeofia, who had once lived in Sokoto and who holds Sokoto state in high regards, pledged to invest $250m in food processing plants in Sokoto state. According to him, about 6,000 jobs are targeted in one and a half years to boost social wellbeing of the people of the state. He said Erisco will partner with the local farmers to increase their capacity for national economic growth. This proposed project had also gone under. I therefore, implore the governor to revisit this economically viable investment that will benefit the state.
As a Sokoto state indigene, I feel sorry for my dear state when I see the dividends of investment accruing to BUA Group after taking over the ownership and management of the defunct Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) founded by Sir Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory and in which Sokoto state could be counted among the shareholders in the CCNN then. Today, Sokoto state has no say in the management of the BUA cement company. The question that has been ringing in my head is whether, it is not realistic for Sokoto state to co-own its cement and fertilizer companies through the PPP arrangement considering the availability of abundant raw materials in Kware, Wamakko and other parts of the state?
If one may ask, what happened to the already established Sokoto Organic Fertiliser Production Plant at Kware which we were told was about to commence production? The project worth N250m, which was a partnership between the state government and IML Company and capable of producing15,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually as well as provide over 20,000 jobs, we were informed, has been completed during the tenure of Tambuwal.
The state should partner with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and other development banks to disburse loans to small, medium and large scale entrepreneurs. The BOI and other development banks should contribute a matching fund while the state government commits counterpart funds, serving as guarantor to the prospective loan beneficiaries who will only repay the principal over a period of time while the state takes up the responsibility of paying off the interest.
There’s no doubt that, Sokoto state is sitting on gold mine. The time for the governor to explore and exploit this potential is now. The governor should take the bull by the horns and pursue economically viable investments that will bring about the mobilization of sustainable resources for development in Sokoto state even beyond his administration. Doing so will not only create more jobs and improve the standard of living of the people, it will also result in the attainment of sustainable development in Sokoto State and ultimately securing the future of our next generations.
Even though, I recognise the need for the governor to initiate economic empowerment programs that will cushion the effect of the hardship being faced in the state, I do not, however, wish to accept hook, line and sinker the opinion of those who see the on-going Sokoto city beautification projects as waste of resources as long as the governor will be able to emulate former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s “Kaduna Urban Renewal Program”.
The Sokoto state governor, should, however, note that, anything short of the people’s expectation of the envisaged Sokoto urban renewal program that will meet the standard of Kaduna urban renewal program will invariably justify the criticisms and condemnation of the on-going Sokoto beautification project as half-baked and will end up as white elephant project.
Nasiru Yahaya Isa (Wamban Isa), retired permanent secretary, Sokoto State Civil Service, writes from Sokoto.
