Economic summits should translate to tangible results – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on northern governors to review all previous economic summits held in the region to evaluate their outcomes and determine the level of success achieved. Speaking at the first Bauchi Economic and Investment Summit on Wednesday in Bauchi, the Sultan noted that he had attended several […]

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on northern governors to review all previous economic summits held in the region to evaluate their outcomes and determine the level of success achieved.

Speaking at the first Bauchi Economic and Investment Summit on Wednesday in Bauchi, the Sultan noted that he had attended several such summits in the past but had never heard of any assessment to measure their effectiveness.

He said, “I have attended economic summits in Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, and today (Wednesday), I am in Bauchi for another economic summit. All these summits are meant to bring about positive changes in the lives and welfare of our people.

“We gather and disperse after every summit, but what do we really achieve at the end? It is a major challenge for our governors to review previous summits and evaluate the level of success recorded.

“We must carry out this assessment to understand where we started and where we are today. If we fail to do so, one day our people may lose confidence in us for not fulfilling our responsibilities. This is a serious challenge to our governors.”

The Sultan further lamented that despite the abundance of natural and human resources in the North, the region’s major challenge remains the lack of political will.

He also identified insecurity as a critical factor affecting development.

“No matter how well a governor plans, if there is no peace and security in the state, then there is a serious problem. Fortunately, Bauchi is relatively peaceful, but I urge the governor to do everything possible to prevent bandits from infiltrating the state.

“Our governors must prioritise the welfare of the people under all circumstances. We need total good governance,” he added.

The Sultan assured that traditional rulers would continue to advise the governors sincerely and support them at all times. “Our support for them will always be 100 percent. I appeal to Nigerians to stop cursing their leaders; instead, they should pray for them.

“When leaders are bad, the people suffer, but when they are good, everyone enjoys the benefits that flow from their leadership,” he said.

Turning to investors, Sultan encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities in Bauchi State, saying the state is ready and open for investment.

In his remarks, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said that without investment, there can be no meaningful development.

“Investment summits like this one bring people together and encourage initiatives that can drive development in the state,” he said.

However, Obasanjo cautioned leaders not to overlook certain critical factors essential for achieving growth and development.

“First is politics — governance must be right. If governance is not right, everything else will go wrong. Second, people must be cared for and provided with their basic needs to live normal lives.

“Third, protection — security, peace, stability, and dependability are essential. No serious investor will come to your state if he is not assured of his safety. Investors are pragmatic and analytical; you must never underestimate them.

“Fourth, partnership — there must be collaboration at the local, community, state, and national levels. We also need partnerships between the private and public sectors, with religious leaders, neighbouring countries, and the international community,” he said.

The former president urged Governor Bala Mohammed to meet expectations in advancing economic growth, noting that Bauchi is one of the leading states in rice production and tourism.

“You have two years left to complete your tenure, and you still have time. You must create a conducive environment for investors and never be too tired to make yourself a model,” Obasanjo said.

Governor Bala A. Mohammed assured investors of his administration’s readiness to support and collaborate with anyone willing to invest in the state.

He noted that with the support of the federal government, the Bauchi State Government had created a favourable environment for business activities in agriculture, ICT, trade, commerce, tourism, culture, and health, among other sectors.

The governor revealed that the state had already signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with companies in Tunisia and China aimed at boosting investment in Bauchi.

According to him, the state also holds shares in some foreign companies, and more investors are showing interest in coming to the state.

He attributed the successes recorded so far to his administration’s commitment to improving the state’s economy. “We have strengthened our procurement processes by blocking leakages to curb corruption,” he said.

Governor Bala Mohammed, therefore, assured both domestic and international investors of adequate security and full government support to ensure the success of their ventures in Bauchi State.