Regional government – Even if worst comes to worst, Northern Nigeria will not be in a dire situation as we think. Although the North has neither port nor oil (at the moment), being a landlocked country deoesn’t spell doom for the region. Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg are landlocked countries and their economies score higher than the world and regional averages.
With good leaders, the North can harness its agricultural potentials, leverage on its population size, standardize its international markets and tap its mineral wealth to grow rapidly. Northern Nigeria has over 37 million hectares of arable land, but Thailand – with 17 million hectares – records nearly three times the entire Nigerian rice production.
For about 60 years, the FG has been spoon-feeding the states with petrodollars like koko. This easy money instils diaper mentality in governors and makes them clingy. It beclouds the their vision and retards their growth. The masses rarely feel the presence of govt/grant. Those who will be affected by the absence of grants are the ruling (read thieving) class.
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Kano was once the industrial capital of Nigeria. Even before Amalgamation in 1914, Kano was known to the world as the Manchester of Africa besause Manchester was then the world’s largest industrial city. But today Lagos accounts for about 70 percent of Nigerian industrial investments.
In my view, Lagos would not have grown this big without the support of other regions. Lagos gets shares from VAT and withholding tax on every kobo transaction in as far as Baga fish market in Borno or Ariaria market in Abia because the facility or invoice is booked at the banks’ headquarters.
Even the vehicles used by banks in all their branches across the country are registered, insured and taxed in Lagos, despite plying Adamawa or Sokoto roads. But when it comes to financing businesses or startups, Northern businesses/startups hardly get access to serious facility as the banks hardly accept landed properties in Northern states as collateral.
Reverting to regional system will reawaken the pan-Arewa spirit. Each region will compete on developing pragmatic regional agenda. It will also be an opportunity for Northern entrepreneurs to establish banks that will recognise a landed property in Gusau as collateral for a loan.
Regional government
Jafar is the publisher of Daily Nigerian
