On the discovery of gold, diamond in Katsina
In the speech, Governor Shema disclosed the efforts of his administration to further boost the internally generated revenue, saying the effort has yielded fruits with the discovery of high grade iron ore in Bindawa and Jibiya local governments and diamonds in Kafur and gold in Jibiya, Safana, Faskari, Kankara, Danmusa, Sabuwa, Bakori, Dutsinma, Batsari and […]
In the speech, Governor Shema disclosed the efforts of his administration to further boost the internally generated revenue, saying the effort has yielded fruits with the discovery of high grade iron ore in Bindawa and Jibiya local governments and diamonds in Kafur and gold in Jibiya, Safana, Faskari, Kankara, Danmusa, Sabuwa, Bakori, Dutsinma, Batsari and Malumfashi local government areas of the state.
Although this discovery may take many by surprise, anyone who is acquainted with the trend of events in Katsina state in the last five years, would witness to the commitment and sincerity of the governor, with the establishment a Department of Resource Development. Engineer Musa Nashuni was appointed of Special Adviser to oversee the affairs of the development. The record indicates that this development was the first time in the history of Katsina state that the government demonstrated the will and commitment to harness the economic potentials of the state.
The Department of Resource Development discoveredd that there is a large deposit of kaolin in 24 local government areas of the state. Kaolin is regarded as the major raw material in the production of paint and chalk. The administration has established 28 cottage industries across the state, providing opportunities for the youths in the state to be self-employed.
To further demonstrate that the government is not ready to pay lip service to any of its programme, Governor Shema directed that all the public schools in the state must use Made-in-Katsina chalk produced by the youths, while all the contractors handling government projects were asked to patronise the Made-in-Katsina paint. It is also on record that the success of this project encouraged the state government to establish youth crafts centre that is designed to provide job opportunities for not less than 3000 youths in various trades on a yearly basis. Many Commonwealth countries lauded the initiative. Some European countries and the USA commended the administration for its decision to establish such a centre.
It is also interesting to note that upon the discovery of diamond and gold in large quantities, the government has already invited interested investors from all over the world to partner with the state to exploit these resources. According to Governor Shema, “the government is pushing for a private, public partnership to exploit the full potentials of these minerals in the state.”
The major discovery of solid minerals was not the first breakthrough of this administration. It is on record that during his first tenure in office, Governor Shema established a 250 bed orthopaedic hospital in Katsina, regarded as the second of its kind in northern Nigeria. The project that was awarded in 2009, according to a reliable source, will be completed and ready for commissioning before the end of this year. Upon completion, the orthopaedic hospital will assist provide healthcare delivery to the entire 19 northern states.
Governor Shema’s style of administration has revealed the power of humility over pride. A clear indication of this is the labour strike over the issue of minimum wage in Katsina State. While the issue is of a national phenomenon, the findings show that while no state government in the north has resolved the issue with the labour union, it is only in Katsina state that the labour union embarked on a prolonged strike, despite the commitment and readiness of the government to address the issue of workers salary and welfare.
In the midst of the host of adversaries including the ‘cabal’ that wanted to return to the status quo of looting the public treasury, Governor Shema has remained focused, undaunted, thus definitely playing a significant role in key sectors of the economy. There is a rising hope with the major discoveries of diamond and gold, which raises hopes of a better monumental development of the human capital.
The state government also, in the last four years, has been collaborating with UNICEF to develop a state wide WASH multi-year investment plan and sustainable sector policy. The administration is also pursuing with the federal government, donor agencies and other development partners to complete ongoing regional water schemes, which will draw water from the Zobe dam to Katsina, and several urban and rural centres along the route.
Similarly, the state, under the leadership of Governor Shema, established a bio-gas electrification project. In addition to this is the rural electrification of 71 communities which have also been connected to the national grid.
Although Governor Shema may decide to remain silent about his record of achievements achiever, yet the people oriented projects executed by his administration will continue to speak for him. For instance, as a result of massive investment and transformation of the education sector in the state by the Shema led administration, the state witnessed an impressive scale-up in school enrollment at primary school level from 1,001,447 in 2005 to 1,462,226 in 2011 and in secondary school, from 142,729 in 2005 to 280,973 in 2011.
Bello Hassan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State, wrote from Kofar Kwaya, Katsina