Zamfara and challenge of industrialisation

Mahmud Shinkafi Zamfara State has been battling with dearth of industry since its creation. Mohammed Sabiu writes that the current Mahmuda Shinkafi-led government in the state is planning a massive investment in the industrial sector, but many people are sceptical of the government’s ability to achieve the industrialisation goal.

TWELVE years after the creation of Zamfara State, the state cannot boast of a single industry. The situation today is pathetic as most of the existing industries in the state are now in comatose. For instance, the Talatan Mafara Brick Industry established by the former military administration of Colonel J. B. Yakubu. The brick industry was established to provide employment to thousands of youths. However, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that it was not to be as the industry only operated for two years and packed up. Attempts by the succeeding government, under Alhaji Ahmed Sani, to resuscitate the industry also proved abortive because, as some public commentators put it, there was no commitment on the part of the government.

Apart from the brick industry, other ailing industries that are in need of revival include Zamfara Textiles, which was closed down about four years ago, throwing over 3,000 workers into the unemployment market; and Gusau Sweet factory which was established by a Lebanese in the early 1980s and is now closed down.

The story is the same for industries like Gusau Oil Mill, established by the former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd.); Rikiji Oil Mill, established by one of the richest families in Gusau; and Zamfara fertiliser Blending Plant, established by the state government, among others.

It is on this premise that the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Co-operative, Alhaji Sani Gummi, disclosed, while briefing journalists in Gusau recently , that the state government had concluded arrangements to rehabilitate all ailing industries in the state. To this end, he maintained that N 2 billion had been earmarked by the state government .

According to him , the state governor, Alhaji Mahmuda Shinkafi, was deeply concerned about the present plight of the industries. “He had given us the go ahead to see what is humanly possible to ensure that these ailing industries are back to life,” Gumi stressed.

He said further that “in our efforts to achieve maximum results, we set up a committee that went round and held far-reaching discussions with the owners of the industries. Very soon, the funds approved for the ailing industries will be released.

In addition to this step that Gumi said the government had taken over its intention to rehabilitate the ailing industries, it is also planning to embark on seven new industrial projects in the state.

The commissioner listed the new projects as a sugar mill to be sited in Shinkafi, a plastic company to be sited in Gusau and Zamfara Foods Processing industry also to be sited in Shinkafi.

Others are an industrial park, a mechanical village, an enterprises zone and an investment company all to be sited in Gusau. Commenting further, Alh Gummi revealed that the sugar plant would gulp about $66 million, while N800 million had been earmarked for the plastic company. He stated that 20 million euros would be spent on Zamfara State Food Processing Company, while the investment company would gulp N1.7 billion.

Apart from this, the commissioner disclosed that the state government also intended to establish cottage industries in each of the 14 local government areas of the state depending on the raw materials available in the areas.

Speaking in the same vein, the state Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals Development, Alhaji Abubakar Maru, disclosed the establishment of Zamfara State Mining Company that had already been incorporated in November 2007.

According to him, the sum of N29.6 milliuon was expended on the new company. He said the company was right now discussing with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for the purchase of mineral blocs.

In addition, he said that another company to be known as Zamfara Metallic Mineral Company was being floated. The company, he added, would soon start exploration of minerals in the state. He said already, investors from China, South Korea, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore and some other countries had come to the state for discussions on the projects.

At a recent public functions, the state governor, Alhaji Shinkafi, stated that by 2020, the state would have become a role model in the Northern part of the country and that it would be a centre of commerce and industry.

Governor Shinkafi said Zamfara State would also provide job opportunities for its teeming unemployed youths and generate revenue for activities of governance. But the question on the lips of many citizens of the state is whether the state government can prove those doubting its ability to achieve all these lofty ideals wrong. Only time can tell.