Nicknamed the Pearl of Tourism because of its natural beauty and the cleanliness of its cities, Bauchi State was created in 1976 to serve as a beacon of tourism in Nigeria. With the Yankari Game Reserve at the center of this plan, the idea was to make Bauchi a mini version of Kenya and Tanzania where foreign tourists come to see African wildlife. Sadly, Bauchi State has failed to realize the vision of its founding fathers and is another part of Nigeria dependent on crude oil handouts for its survival.
Like most states of the northeast, Bauchi is home to typical African wildlife like elephants, hyenas, hippos, baboons, giraffes, lions, leopards, wildebeest, camels, etc. Unfortunately, no one has come up with a plan to create a Kruger National Park in Bauchi State. With its huge landmass of 45,893 square kilometers, Bauchi has ample space for such a project. What stops the state governor from seeking investment partners?
Bauchi State is also home to a lot of cattle and being the fifth largest state in the country in terms of territory, I have suggested it be home to one of Nigeria’s mega cattle ranches. Were I the Bauchi State governor, I would build the world’s largest cattle ranch in one of the northern local government areas, such as Gamawa or Dambam. This would be a purpose-built town with a veterinary technical school, a veterinary clinic, a battalion of the Nigerian Army for security, etc.
Bauchi State’s northern local government areas like Zaki, Gamawa, Dambam, Itas-Gadua, Katagum, Jama’are, Shira, Giade, Misau, and Darazo all border the Sahel. Were I the state governor, I would open mega plantations for crops like cotton, gum arabic, millet, sorghum, dates, groundnuts, guar gum, etc. in all these areas. To run them, I would establish the Bauchi Plantation Company in a public-private partnership with local farmers, where the state government would hold a minority stake of say 25%.
This Bauchi Plantation Company would not only build massive plantations and US-style prairies but also own processing plants in urban centers like Itas, Azare, Misau, Bauchi, Dass, Dambam, and Alkaleri. It would only be allowed to sell fully finished products.
What makes my heart bleed about Bauchi State more than anything else is that it sullies the memory of Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa. This is a man who came up with so many innovations for Nigeria like Victoria Island, Unilag, Kainji Dam, etc., yet there is no befitting monument in his honor in his state. Were I the Bauchi State governor, I would turn the tomb of Balewa into a mausoleum the size of the Taj Mahal and attract tourists from all over Africa. It must become a Nigerian money-spinner.
Can someone also please explain to me why northern Bauchi State is not one huge solar farm? Its northern local government areas like Zaki, Gamawa, Dambam, Itas-Gadua, Katagum, Jama’are, Shira, Giade, Misau, and Darazo all receive an inordinate amount of sunlight, so each should contain one mega solar farm. We need a Bauchi Power Company floated by the state government, with the state holding a minority stake in the venture. This company should then open a solar panel manufacturing plant in Bauchi and offer an integrated electricity solution. Power should be a huge money-spinner for Bauchi State.
Bauchi State is also known for its arts and crafts which include beautiful embroidered caps and babbanrigas, fiber craft, and decorated calabashes. It is also very versatile in the production of metal works such as weaponry, agricultural tools, pottery, and leather works. To market all this effectively, we need a Bauchi Art and Crafts Company in which the state government is a shareholder. This company should apply for patents for all these goods, manufacture them industrially, and then market them as branded products.
Bauchi State is also very rich in solid minerals as it has large deposits of alluvial tin, columbite, cassiterite, coal, limestone, iron ore, antimony, and marble. There are also significant kaolin deposits in Alkaleri. Surely the state government must invite global mining giants like Rio Tinto, BHP, Glencore, and the China Shenhua Energy Company to open operations in Bauchi.
Bauchi State’s most renowned natural resource is the Wikki Warm Spring. This natural spring produces crystal clear water. I want to see the world’s largest water processing plant built around it. There is no reason why pure water sales and exports alone should not fetch Bauchi State up to $10 billion a year.
This is the 35th state we have looked at in this series and we will conclude the analysis tomorrow when we examine Lagos. Having examined each state of Nigeria, it is clear that all that is holding us back as a nation is fear of the unknown. Our state governors are afraid to let go of the security of federal allocations and crude oil handouts and pursue development. This psychological block is at the heart of our national economic woes. Nigeria has nothing to fear from letting go of crude oil. Each of our states can generate at least four times what they receive from these Abuja handouts.
If you ask me, what we need is a president prepared to force the issue. Someone who will stubbornly refuse to pay out federal allocations and compel the states to generate their own revenue is the solution I can propose. At the moment, there is no incentive for our states to be self-reliant, so some coercion is required.
