allAfrica.com: Nigeria: 'Development Action Plan Needed to Tackle Endemic Poverty' (Page 1 of 1)

Group Managing Director/CEO of BGL Plc, Mr. Albert Okumagba has said that a well articulated Development Action Plan (DAP) is imperative for economic transformation of Northern Nigeria to free the region from the firm grip of poverty.

Okumagba made this call while speaking on "Development Action Plan- A Tool for Transforming Potential Into Wealth" at a three-day Northern Nigeria Economic and Investment Summit held in Abuja. He stated, "The task of state building and human development enables the Development Action Plan address two basic imperatives, namely; the articulation of the steps and stages for the overall development of the state and its citizenry; which will eventually serve as an operating manual for successive administrations."

He pointed out that the development of a sales document or guide was needed to secure private sector investment, adding that development partners are more likely to be responsive when supply gaps have been sufficiently identified and the requisite implementation modalities have been adequately debated and developed.

The BGL boss noted that a well articulated DAP would help transform the immense human and economic potential of Northern Nigeria into lasting wealth and mass empowerment, stressing "the fact that Northern Nigeria has a greater potential for economic development is evident from the material endowments of land mass, population, topographical and mineral resources"

He noted that a close look at the distribution of the resources shows that the Northern region has a higher capacity for economic development than what subsisting conventional wisdom assumes.

Okumagba however, lamented that the gross neglect of these potentials and relative dependence of the region on oil wealth allocation has relegated the region in the scheme of economic productivity in Nigeria, noting with dismay that the collective contribution of the 19 Northern States to National GDP is approximately 32 per cent, despite having over 70 per cent of land mass and 53 per cent of the total population.

He further lamented that the North West recorded the highest poverty rate of 77 per cent which is approximately 44 per cent higher than the rate in the South East Zone, stressing "it also has twice the rate of core poverty of the South East Zone.

The recorded poverty rates in the North East and North Central Zones are also approximately 70 per cent and 65 per cent respectively, which remains significantly higher than the rates in the Southern Zones"

According to him, statistical evidence depicts Northern Nigeria as having the worst educational indicators, with literacy levels, school enrolments and retention rates, decreasing the further one moves to the northern border of the country.

Quoting UNICEF statistics, he added that the female literacy in the South East is almost three times higher than rates of 21 per cent in the North East Zone and 22 per cent in the North West Zone while male literacy of 74 per cent in both South East and South West Zones is one to seven times the rate in the North Zone

He further lamented that factors such as desert encroachment, rising crime rates and inadequate health care delivery also combined to further strain the economies of most states in the northern part of the country.

In spite of the apparent dismal statistics, Okumagba noted that the Northern Nigerian region holds great potential for increased crop and livestock production and is a latent repository of valuable mineral resources for enhanced economic activity in the Mining sector.

Minister of Finance, Shammusudden Usman however, blamed the elite from the northern part of Nigeria for the economic woes of the region, saying the region remained backward due to bad leadership.

He lamented the seeming aparty of leaders of thought who had distinguished themselves in their chosen careers; in the way the region is run has further plunged the region into economic mystery.

"I look around this conference hall and I see retired Generals, retired permanent secretaries, retired professors; but aside Prof. Jubril Aminu, who among you takes active interest in the way your state is being run?"he asked rhetorically, stressing," you don't sit in the comfort of home and expect miracle to happen"

He noted that such credible individuals from the north should be in the House of Representatives, Senate and other critical areas where they would be make useful contributions to the economic development of the region.

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