A lot of governors are adopting various approaches to development of their states.
Some are concerned about roads, which are superficial and self explanatory to the public with regard to performance. Others are concerned about projects that impact more on the people such as health, education and empowerment. Many governors avoid this area because it does not showcase their performances easily to the ordinary man in the streets but road projects can. This may be the reason why the Wikes, the Umahis, the Zulums, are concerned about flyover projects and other physical infrastructure.
A cursory examination of the development approach of Cross River State is geared towards job creation and stimulation of the economy of the state, which is apt in the present Nigeria’s developmental situation.
To this end, the developmental projects of the governor is more about the establishment of industries, agriculture and tourism to mention but a few.
Recently, Cross River State was part of African Development bank meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire with other five states with regard to special agro industries processing zones(SAPZ) initiative.
The representatives of Cross River State, Barrister Chris Agara has been a man concerned about agricultural development.
Many of the state governors do not emphasize on agriculture. Agriculture is key to the development of the third world countries and any government in these countries should give emphasis to agriculture.
Many of the state governors do not emphasize on agriculture. Agriculture is key to the development of the third world countries and any government in these countries should give emphasis to agriculture.
Many of the state governors do not emphasize on agriculture. Agriculture is key to the development of the third world countries and any government in these countries should give emphasis to agriculture.
No wonder, President Muhammadu Buhari inspite of criticisms against his administration’s management of the economy still reiterates that agriculture should be the driving force of Nigeria’s economy.
Even if Nigeria is to go into industrialization, it has to be from agriculture to agro-allied industries and other hitech industries. So, the meeting in Abidjan was apt as the concern of AFDB is to position African countries to move from agriculture to agro industrial processing.
If many states are thinking towards this line, Nigeria would reinvigorate her economy in no distant time.
The choice of Barrister Agara to represents Cross River State is a wise one. This might have been predicated on the man’s business which is mainly centered in helping to push Cross River State from agriculture to agro-allied industries.
He has a business called AA Universal Agro industries limited, a company in the business of providing integrated agro services and working with Israeli partners.
The company is helping the state with its integrated poultry farm projects. It is also working in consortium with some US companies in processing grains and also engaging in the farming.
Furthermore, the company is partnering the Cross River State Government in its world class rice processing mill at Ogoja and Yala.
Not only that, his businesses are also into vocational and special training in helping out in the development of agro allied business. The business mogul has embarked on full value chain development of cassava and cocoa at Ikom, Cross River state, which would have tremendous impact on the micro and macro farmers and businesses. He emphasized on youth engagement in a sustainable commercial cocoa farming approach. Therefore, his choice in the meeting was wise.
We should learn in Nigeria to put a round peg in a round hole.
In Nigeria, we have a negative attitude of compensating our political friends in positions or board appointments where they are not relevant.
Barrister Agara being in the business of agriculture and agro-allied business would be in a position to make valuable inputs in the AFDB meetings, two, which are coming up in Ethiopia and Nigeria, respectively, this month, and also ingest the ideas got from the meeting to boost agriculture and agro-allied industries development.
It is to this regard that one implores other states to learn the developmental approach of Cross River State to revamp Nigeria’s economy, create jobs, increase state revenue and lay foundation for funds for superficial infrastructure such as roads, bridges, flyovers etc.
Nigeria leaders should indulge in proper planning, prioritization and even development.
That raises the question on development plans which had been abandoned over the years for fiscal roll on plans.
We, therefore, call on State governments to work with the federal government to engage in integrated and prioritized development instead of white elephant projects that lead us to nowhere for now.
