Time to fix the North, or bury it

This is similar to debates which defined the political landscape towards the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. Unfortunately, there has been a corresponding dearth of ideas on how this power would in practical terms benefit the region. It is common knowledge that northern Nigeria has been on a steady decline for almost two decades, with […]

This is similar to debates which defined the political landscape towards the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. Unfortunately, there has been a corresponding dearth of ideas on how this power would in practical terms benefit the region.
It is common knowledge that northern Nigeria has been on a steady decline for almost two decades, with dismal performance in almost all measures of socio-economic development. This reality is hardly disputed. To further compound matters, the growing insurgency within the region is decimating what was left of the northern economy and hindering the ability of governments to deliver public services.

Unfortunately, the future does not look any brighter. A number of risks are in the horizon, including the rising population that could put a further strain on service delivery, declining revenue from the Federal government which may render some states bankrupt, environmental challenges leading to water scarcity and decreased farm output. Combined with existing problems, these could plunge the region and indeed the nation into chaos.
The consequences of allowing the current situation to deteriorate are dire. Time has come to discard the myopic vision of jumping from one electoral cycle to the next. James Clarke captured it aptly when he said “Politicians think about the next election, statesmen think about the next generation.” For the North to survive, it requires statesmen leading the urgent implementation of a sustained renewal strategy.
A number of people have identified the need for this strategy, citing something akin to the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after the 2nd World War. The north needs one single integrated framework backed by a realistic financing and implementation mechanism. This does not refer to a glossy document to be dumped on the shelves of ministries or another nostalgic conference on the over-flogged theme of how great Sardauna was.
Rather, this renewal strategy could focus on 5 transformative actions.
Firstly is structural transformation of the northern economy- the kind that hasn’t happened since the trans-Sahara trade. To kick-start the economy, we must re-integrate ourselves into local, regional and global value chains. From agriculture to mining to manufacturing and services, we must consistently ask the question; what can we provide to ourselves, to Nigeria, to Africa and the world? What production methods will engage and empower most of the northern people while delivering efficiently? Then we must identify the regional locomotives that can drive the exploitation of these chains. Our states must complement each other by providing various inputs across the path towards finished products.

Secondly, we must be able to identify and build critical infrastructure including power and roads. It currently costs less to ship a container from the United States to Lagos, than to transport the same container from Lagos to Kano! This is unacceptable. High transport costs erode the competitive edge and trading volume of the region. We should ensure the realization of the full economic potentials of the recently completed dredging of the river Niger from Delta State up to Baro in Niger State. This holds significant promise and would benefit from increased political attention and private investment.
As a third transformative action, education needs to be reinvigorated from its current sterile state to respond to the demands of today and the future. Vocational education, investments in science, technology and innovation need to be prioritized and adequately tailored to supply the capacity which the region requires for the future.

Next, the region must embark on what writers have referred to as a psychological revolution. The attitude of our people is in dire need of change. Destructive use of culture and religion needs to be checked through meaningful partnerships with our traditional, religious leaders and indeed the Hausa movie industry. The apex religious bodies must act as regulatory bodies to stem the spread of divisive messages cloaked in sermons. Similarly, the family unit needs to take responsibility for young children. We have seen what one generation of neglected children can do, we must avoid another.  

Implementing such a strategy requires significant resources.
While it is important to acknowledge that budgetary constraints do matter, we must strive for innovation in finding solutions to financing gaps. This is the 5th transformative action. The North cannot afford to continue running almajiri governments- awaiting handouts from the center. Alternative funding sources exist and must be tapped into while greater efforts are made on all fronts to ensure efficiency of current financing. States need to widen their tax base, partner the private sector and international partners.
We must also understand that governance and issues of security are interwoven and must be tackled simultaneously with the realization that there is no peace without development and no development without peace.
It is imperative to emphasize that we do not need to create new institutions or organize grand conferences to implement this strategy. The Vice President and our Governors need to be in the lead. The Northern Governors Forum provides a veritable political platform while the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, existing since 1949, can be retooled to provide the technical level coordination.
International Partners will need to boost aid to the region and give it preferential treatment. For all intents, northern Nigeria is no different from the land locked least developing countries of the Sahel. The people ultimately hold the power- at least in theory. We need to expand philanthropy and provide mentorship for the increasingly young population.
The leaders of the north have a decision to make today. And it is more important than who becomes President. It is a decision to fix the north, or bury it.
Dattijo wrote from New York, NY<[email protected]>;