How Nigeria’s North East Governors Forum can radically change the course of history by becoming the first geo-political zone to opt out of the federal allocation formula

Ayo Akinfe 

(1) In response to the violence devastating their geo-political zone, the North East Governors Forum recently said it will create a regional security body similar to Amotekun. However, the governors need to take this a step futher by creating a regional developmental association with a mandate to making the six states economically independent of the rest of Nigeria. Let them start by converting the Civilian Joint Task Force into a standing body that expels Boko Haram from their midst indefinitely 

(2) Then, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Taraba States should each allocate 5,000 square kilometres of land for the purpose of building mega cattle ranches. Each will aim to have a population of 20m cattle each with adjoining animal feed compounding plants 

(3) As from January 1 2030, no northeast state will accept a penny in federal allocation from the finance ministry in Abuja. It will pride itself on becoming the first self-financing geo-political zone in Nigeria , reviving the tradition of the old Kanem-Borno Empire. Tourism, power generation, agriculture, manufacturing, food processing and animal husbandry will be used to replace these federal handouts 

(4) Taraba State’s Gashaka National Park will be built into the world’s largest wildlife sanctuary. An unprecedented number of lions, impala, zebra, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, elephants, baboons, buffalo, crocodiles, wilderbeast, hyena, etc will be imported under an ambitious plan known as The West African Serengeti 

(5) Adjacent to the Gashaka National Park will be a Global National Wildlife Park into which non-African animals will be imported. These will include kangaroos, camels, panda, dingo, llama, etc. One of the most ambitious tourism infrastructural projects will be launched here with the construction of hotels, theme parks, cafes, bars, casino, restaurants, etc. A tourist railway network will also be built linking all six states 

(6) Each of the six states must have at least one dairy processing plant producing a minimum of 100,000m litres a year each 

(7) Each of the six states must have at least one leather processing plant manufacturing sofas, belts, bags, wallets, shoes, etc 

(8) Borno and Yobe states will each set aside 5,000 square kilometres each for a regional solar farm. The goal is that by 2030, the geo-political zone is self reliant on terms of power generation. It will also become the first part of Nigeria to meet the 100% clean energy target 

(9) Each of the states will replicate the Michael Okpara education policy of spending 45% of their annual budgets on education in an audacious attempt to eradicate illiteracy. The goal is to become the first part of Nigeria to achieve 100% literacy 

(10) Each state will be set an ambitious target of raising at least $3bn annually. Of this sum, only $2bn shall be spent as a budget. All the excess shall go into a foreign reserve which each state must have by law