Nigeria’s northeast: A country on the verge of collapse By Sulaiman Badamasi (Mahir) Come To Our Aid! A bird’s-eye look at the northeast confirms the presence of many attributes that lead a region to collapse. In other words, so many things that ravage a nation are present in the northeast today, and anything that sustains the future of a region is being targeted at and put under aggressive destruction. For any nation to attain sustainability, it is sine-qua-non to have all or most of the following assets in place; education, economy, farming, peace, transportation, infrastructure, healthcare services, youth, policy and information. These are the attributes that are proved to be ingredients of development and sustainability of a region, and are the ones that are being massively chased with annihilations in the northeast on daily basis, without our situation being heard of in its true picture. It is known that “a disease can be cured only when it is diagnosed” that is why I want to use this alternative to beseech as a bawler in order to re-portray the level of danger that befalls our region and the hell it is heading to, with the hope that the media amplifies until it reaches the relevant authorities; and that it would be taken as a cry-havoc not a cry-wolf. “We shall complain, appeal and arraign. We will make the world listen to the facts of our condition” (Obafemi Awolowo) A Country The reason why the northeast was referred to as a country in this piece is because there are a number of countries whose; population, landmass, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), natural resources and economy are not up to that of the region, yet the government has been doing less than enough to dustup the challenge that keeps crippling the region. The Northeast region was created as a state in 1967. In 1976 three states of Gongola, Borno and Bauchi were created out of it, which later gave birth to three more states; Yobe state from Borno, Gombe state from Bauchi and Gongola became split to make Taraba and Adamawa states. The region remains one of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. It has the largest landmass, it neighbours Niger, Cameroun and Chad republics, and is the lesser developed among all the regions. Borno state; is one of the oldest states in Nigeria, has approximate population of about five million (5,000,000), landmass of 70,898 kilometre square, GDP of $5.3 billion, and per capita of $1,314. It has seven different natural resources (Kaolin, Limestone, Bentonite, Clay, Coal, Gemstone, Gysium, Iron-ore) although some recent disclosure that was made by the state government coveys the fact that the state has oil. Bauchi state; was created in 1976, has an approximate population of about four million nine hundred thousand (4,900,000), landmass of 49.119 kilometre square, GDP of $4.71 billion, per capita $of 1083, 55 tribal groups. It has ten different natural resources (Gold, Cassiterite, (tine ore), Columbite, Gypsium, Wolfram, Coal, Limestone, Lignite, Iron-ore & Clay) although recent study suggests that the state has oil too. Gombe state; created in 1996, has approximate population of about two million seven hundred thousand (2,700,000), landmass of 18,768 kilometre square, GDP of $2.50 billion, per capita of $1,136. It has two different natural resources (Gemstone & Gypsium). Yobe state; was created in 1991, has approximate population of about two million nine hundred thousand (2,900,000), landmass of 45,502 kilometre square, GDP of $2.31 billion, per capita of $943. It has two different natural resources (Soda Ash & Gypsium). Taraba state; was created in 1991, has estimated population of about three million (3,000,000), landmass of 54,473 kilometre square, GDP of $3.50 billion, per capita of $1,546. It has Lead/Zinc as natural resource. Adamawa state; was created in 1991, has estimated population of about three million nine hundred thousand (3,900,000), landmass of 36,917 kilometre square, GDP of $4.68 billion, per capita of $1,517. It has four different natural resources (Bentonite, Gypsium, Kaolin, Magnesite) although the state’s government has, in 2013 claimed that the state has huge gold in exploitable amount. Summation of the above facts and more suggest that, the northeast has approximate estimated population of twenty four million four hundred thousand (24,400,000), which makes it above at least 195 countries in the world, landmass of 275,677 kilometre square, which makes it larger than at least 175 countries, GDP of $23 billion, which makes it above at least 86 countries. The region has at least 18 different natural resources, making it above several countries (including Japan, Taiwan, Italy, Switzerland, etc). It has at least 100 tribal groups and is a home to second largest cattle market (Yobe) in West Africa, largest fish market (Borno) and the largest food producing state (Taraba). The region is the largest supplier of millet and cattle in the country. On The Verge Of Collapse The following depicts the degree of vulnerability that betides the region, which if perpetually exploited, the region, will in future, only be seen on the map of Nigeria and studied about for academic purposes; Note: Although some secondary sources have been used to find facts, larger amount of it are testimonies of eye witnesses. In terms of education, the region suffers a severe setback due to having so many schools demolished. Some have been closed due to frequent curfews that are being imposed on the region. Governments sometimes do order the closure of schools whenever boko haram mayhem heightens. According Borno state government report in July 2014, at least 900 schools were destroyed and 176 teachers killed. This is an account of only one out of the six north eastern states in which there are at least 25 towns under control of boko haram which are yet to account for. In Yobe state, there had been four major attacks on boarding schools (Yobe School of Agric Gujba, Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Government Secondary School Mamudo & Government Science and Technical College Potiskum), each of which had swept away at least 90 staff and children according eye witness accounts. In 2013, none of the secondary schools in Borno and Yobe was able to complete the syllabus of senior secondary schools due to the insecurity. Mayhap the region’s economy has been growing mutilated due to the felony of mayhem upon the following: the number of hours that people go to market is reduced, retail and wholesale places used to open at 6:00am up to 10:00pm (before insurgency) but turned to 10:00am to 5:00pm now, outsiders do rarely visit the area for the purpose of business in recent time, Potiskum is the largest and most populous town in the region, the home of Nigeria’s largest cattle market, but has only two banks running because most of the banks were destroyed by insurgents while some have decided to vacate before being attacked. Fish farming and food & cash cropping have been maimed; the towns of Banki, Baga, Bama and Gamboru Ngala made Borno state one of top few largest fish producing state but all of them are currently part of insurgents’ territories. According Catholic Church’s report in September, 2013, at least 25 towns were under insurgents’ control, all of which are fertile areas of food cropping. Many farmers have been killed while in their farms and farms have been destroyed with explosions. The creeping genocide took the lives of unaccounted for farmers by setting villages ablaze and shooting at sight any person that runs for life safety by gun men. Reduction in population; through loss of lives, mass kidnappings, migration and immigration is an abysmal part of this calamity, and the most lugubrious aspect of it is that, most of the causalities are youths and teenagers. According to IRIN humanitarian news and analysis “At least 1.5 million people have been internally displaced since May 2013, when the Nigerian government first declared a state of emergency in the north eastern states” In line with it, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says they registered nearly 700,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) between January and November 2014. Credits: nigeria.gov.ng, wikipedia, National Bureau of Statistics (Nigeria), cia.gov (world facts), Tijjani Ahmad (Silhouette), Albinus Chiedu (Economic Implications of Insecurity), eye witnesses – anonymous (ethics). Sulaiman Badamasi (Mahir) sulaimanmahir@gmail 26/12/2014
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 07:06:20 +0000
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