Continuing with our journey across Nigeria, today we visit Zamfara State and examine its economic potential

[1] Zamfara is arguably the poorest state in Nigeria as it has no private sector whatsoever, no industry and has not tapped into any of its natural resources. At the moment, Zamfara is more or less wholly dependent on federal allocation handouts for its survival

[2] It is no accident that Zamfara was the first state in Nigeria to embrace sharia law. Equally, nobody should be surprised that it is the banditry capital of the country. Nature abhors a vacuum, so in the absence of economic activity, religious extremism and crime are thriving

[3] Well, I have news for everyone. Zamfara arguably gets more sunshine than any other state in Nigeria. Can someone please explain to me why Zamfara is not one huge solar farm. It is Nigeria’s seventh largest state by landmass with almost 40,000 square kilometres, so has plenty of land to spare for solar farms. Gusau should be home to the world’s largest solar panel manufacturing plant

[4] Of late, Zamfara has uncovered gold reserves. Why the state government has not wooed smelting and processing companies is beyond me. Every known jewellery company in the world should have a subsidiary in Zamfara State

[5] Australia is a world leader in solid minerals but I cannot see a company like Rio Tinto agreeing to invest in Zamfara today, as the place is simply too volatile. All their staff will be kidnapped if they even try it. Maybe the Zamfara State government needs to spend about a quarter to one third of its budget on security to reverse this trend

[6] Zamfara can also grow neem in abundance. Are we aware of the medicinal advantages of this plant? Pharmaceutical companies should be wooed to Zamfara to process its neem

[7] Zamfara has fortunately also started growing groundnuts. However, we need this backed up with a processing network to produce all the by-products

[8] Personally, I would get the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army to build a prison next to the gold mines of Zamfara. This prison would house violent convicts and have them do the mining. It makes economic sense in my opinion to have convicted Boko Haram terrorists, Zamfara bandits, sentenced murderous Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers and armed robbers put to productive use mining gold in Zamfara State. It would boost Nigeria’s economic output, get them off our streets, allay security fears as they would not be armed and over the long term, train these criminals

[9] I would even establish an entire mechanised division of the Nigerian Army in Gusau to oversee the project. If you have the 10th Mechanised Brigade of the Nigerian Army overseeing the project, it will be on hand to guarantee security. As part of this project, I would have a Nigerian Army Engineering Corp battalion permanently attached to the division to provide any technical assistance with the mine of needed

[10] Other crops Zamfara can grow in abundance includes sorghum, millet, guar gum, dates and gum arabic. Zamfara State should not only be littered with plantations growing them but its urban centres like Gusau, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi and Maradun should be home to industrial estates that are home to processing plants