As Nigeria constantly looks to expand production in a bid to reduce the scarcity of consumer goods and combat inflation, I wonder why the Northern State Governors Forum cannot come up with a regional masterplan

Ayo Akinfe

At the epicentre of this masterplan should be a programme to make Northern Nigeria the leading global producer of the following items:

[1] Millet

[2] Sorghum

[3] Groundnuts

[4] Milk

[5] Leather goods

[6] Gum Arabic

[7] Neem

[8] Shea Nuts

[9] Horses

[10] Solar Power

[1] Leon Trotsky once said: “Even in ruins there is architecture.” Basically, what he meant was that the Phoenix always has a way of rising from the ashes to achieve greater success than hitherto existed. Just look at the economic expansion we witnessed in Japan after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nigeria is at that kind of crossroad today

[2] With the Fulani herdsmen saga, Nigeria has accidentally stumbled upon a way out of her economic quagmire and we should seize this chance-in-a-lifetime opportunity with both hands. Livestock alone can match the revenue we generate from crude oil and history will never forgive us if we let this opportunity slip through our fingers

[3] I was delighted to hear a few years ago that the Northern State Governors Forum (NSGF) decided it was time to start exporting farm goods to neighbouring countries to generate export revenue. This is something that was long overdue as Nigeria realises too little revenue from regional trade

[4] As a first step, I want the NSGF to insist that importers in Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Cameroon, etc pay for their goods in hard currency. They should not accept CFA Francs and insist that they pay in Euros using the exchange agreement they have with France

[5] After years of dragging her feet over this crazy over-dependency on crude oil, Nigeria has suddenly realised the economic potential of animal husbandry. Over the next 10 years, I want to see this sector at least match the $50bn or so Nigeria generates from the sale of petroleum. I for one await details of the NSGF’s animal husbandry industrial development plan

[6] I want the NSGF to ringfence these 10 products listed above. They are to become the “new crude oil” raising revenue with which to run their states. I want to see the NSGF tell the federal government to go to hell with its allocation formula. Let Abuja know that Nigeria’s 19 northern states are no longer interested in federal handouts and are now dependent on what they produce to survive

[7] This will open up immense savings potentials for southern Nigeria too as food distributors will be able to shop around the northern states for the best offers. Over the long term, this will inevitably lead to an expansion of domestic production

[8] As part of this programme,the NSGF should be desperately wooing food processors so they no longer export primary products. I want to see bottled milk, leather goods, table peanuts, thorough-bred horses, neem-based pharmaceuticals, gum arabic-based food additives, packaged cereals made from millet and sorghum similar to Corn Flakes and Weetabix, etc, all exported from northern Nigeria across the Ecowas region

[9] Generating power has got to be the jewel in this crown as without electricity you cannot manufacture anything. I want to see four or five massive 1,000 square kilometre solar farms across Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Borno states. They should generate power both for domestic use and for export

[10] Given that about 70% of Niger Republic is Sahara Desert, I would also like to see a massive investment of Nigerian capital in the solar industry there. For instance, what stops a consortium of businessmen forming the Zamfara Power Generation Company which will then lease 10,000 square miles of Sahara Desert in Niger Republic and convert it into the world’s largest solar farm? President Buhari’s greatest achievement in office was probably building a warm relationship with Niger Republic. It is time to exploit that opportunity as the country is a natural solar park. Over to you the NSGF!

Ayoakinfe@gmail.com