In today’s penultimate edition of the Make Nigeria Better series, we visit Bauchi State in the northeast geo-political zone

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Nicknamed the Pearl of Tourism because of its natural beauty and the cleanliness of its cities, Bauchi State was created in 1976 to serve as a beacon of tourism in Nigeria. With the Yankari Game Reserve at the centre of this plan, the whole idea was to make Bauchi a mini version of Kenya and Tanzania where foreign tourists come to see African wildlife. Sadly, Bauchi State has failed to realise the vision of its founding fathers and is another part of Nigeria shamelessly dependent on crude oil handouts for its survival

[2] Like most states of the northeast, Bauchi is home to typical African wildlife like elephants, hyenas, hippos, baboons, giraffes, lions, leopards, wilderbeast, camels, etc. Unfortunately, no one has come up with a plan to create a Kruge National Park in Bauchi State. With its huge landmass of 45,893 square kilometres, Bauchi has all the land in the world for such a project. What stops the state governor from going to look for investment partners?

[3] Bauchi State is also home to a lot of cattle and being the fifth largest state in the country in terms of territory, I have suggested it be home to one of Nigeria’s mega cattle ranches. Were I the Bauchi State governor, I would build the world’s largest cattle ranch in one of the northern local government area in somewhere like the Gamawa or Dambam. This would be a purpose built town with a veterinary technical school, a veterinary clinic, a battalion of the Nigerian Army for security, etc

[4] Bauchi State’s northern local government areas like Zaki, Gamawa, Dambam, Itas-Gadua, Katagum, Jama’are, Shira, Giade, Misau and Darazo, all border on the Sahel. Were I the state governor, I would open mega plantations for crops like cotton, gum arabic, millet, sorghum, dates, groundnuts, guar gum etc in all these areas. To run then, I would float a Bauchi Plantation Company in a public private partnership with local farmers in which the state government would hold a minority state of say 25%

[5] This Bauchi Plantation Company would not only build massive plantations and US-style prairies but it will also own processing plants in urban centres like Itas, Azare, Misau, Bauchi, Dass, Dambam and Alkaleri. It will only be allowed to sell fully finished products

[6] Maybe what makes my heart bleed about Bauchi State more than anything else is that it sullies the memory of Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa. This is a man who came up with so many innovations for Nigeria like Victoria Island, Unilag, Kainji Dam, etc yet there is no befitting monument in his honour in his state. Were I the Bauchi State I would turn the tomb of Balewa into a mausoleum the size of the Taj Mahal and woo tourists from all over Africa. It must become a Nigerian money spinner

[7] Can someone also please explain to me why northern Bauchi State is not one huge solar farm? Its northern local government areas like Zaki, Gamawa, Dambam, Itas-Gadua, Katagum, Jama’are, Shira, Giade, Misau and Darazo all get an inordinate amount of sunlight, so should each contain one mega solar farm. We need a Bauchi Power Company floated by the state government, who will have a minority stake in the venture. This company should then open a solar panel manufacturing plant in Bauchi and offer an integrated electricity solution. Power should be a huge money spinner for Bauchi State

[8] Bauchi State is also known for its arts and crafts which include beautiful embroidered caps and babbanrigas, fibre craft and decorated calabashes. It is also very versatile in the production of metal works such as weaponry, agricultural tools, pottery and leather works. To market all this effectively we need a Bauchi Art and Crafts Company in which the state government is a shareholder. This company should apply for patents for all these goods, manufacture them industrially and then market them as branded products

[9] Bauchi State is also very rich in solid minerals as it has large deposits of alluvial tin, columbite, cassiterite, coal, limestone, iron ore, antimony and marble. There are also significant kaolin deposits in Alkaleri. Surely the state government must invite global mining giants like Rio Tinto, BHP, Glencore and the China Shenhua Energy Company to come and open up shop in Bauchi

[10] Bauchi State’s most renown natural resource is the Wikki Warm Spring. This is a natural spring that produces crystal clear water. I want to see the world’s largest water processing plant built around it. There is no reason why pure water sakes and exports alone should not fetch Bauchi State up to $10bn a year.

Ayoakinfe@gmail.com

This is the 35th state we have looked at in this series and will be ending the analysis tomorrow when we look at the king of the jungle Lagos. Having examined each state of Nigeria, it is crystal clear to me that all that is holding us back as a nation is fear of the unknown.

Our state governors are scared to let go of the security of the federal allocation regime and the crude oil handouts and pursue development. This psychological mental block is at the heart of our national economic woes.

Nigeria has nothing to fear from letting go of crude oil. Each of our states can generate at least four times what they are getting from these Abuja handouts.

If you ask me, what we need is a president prepared to force the issue. Someone who will stubbornly just refuse to pay out federal allocations and force the states to generate their own revenue is the solution I can come up with. At the moment, there is no incentive for our states to be self-reliant, so some coercion is required.