Call for a national crisis declaration urged

from All Africa

There are calls being made for a state of emergency for the northern part of Uganda. - Kale
by Abdulraheem Aodu

Kaduna, - The Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukuma Soludo has asked federal government to declare the poverty level in the north, a national crisis situation which may stall the realization of the country's goal to achieve the target of one of the fastest developing economies in the world in 2020.

Soludo who made the statement while speaking at a one day public lecture organized by the Northern Development Initiative in Kaduna on Friday said that the Northern Nigeria poverty crises has assumed as much national importance as the Niger Delta crises because the country will not be achieve the gaol without economic development of the Northern Nigeria. He therefore called for all-inclusive economic development that would cover all parts of the country.

The level of poverty in Northern Nigeria has become so alarming that it is dragging back the development of other parts of the country, he further stated.

The CBN boss said that there is the need for the country to focus attention on the development of the Northern economy, particularly agriculture and industry which are the mainstays of the economy, as it currently lags behind that of the Southern states and stands to be left behind by the country's train of economic development.

"We need to have an inclusive economic development for Nigeria to achieve Vision 2020. It is a task for all Nigerians but I want to argue that creeping poverty in the Northern Nigeria is as much national crises as that of the Niger Delta. So, for development at the national level to be sustainable we must make it an inclusive development.

"This is the time for us to focus our attention on the Northern economy because according to the last census, the North constitutes about 52 percent of the Nigerian population but looking at all the indicators of development, the North seems to be lagging far behind the southern states. As the nation moves together on national development, poverty eradication and achieving its vision 2020 objectives, we must pay attention not to leave a big proportion far behind.

"Poverty is unacceptably high in Nigeria but the alarming and persisting level of poverty in Nigeria is a phenomenon in the North. While Lagos State records the highest poverty level in the South, which is about 60 percent, there is no state with less that 60 percent in the North, while it is as high as 95 percent in some Northern states. In the North, it is lowest in North Central states but records an average of 80 percent in the North West and North East."

Soludo therefore challenged all Nigerians to collectively work towards the development of the nation's economy. He also tasked the Northern elites on the development of Northern agriculture and industry especially generation of employment opportunities to sustain its economy and education, as he said that knowledge and skill is a critical element of human and economic development.

"We need to roll up our sleeves because from all indicators, most parts of the North seem to lag behind all other parts of the country. If 21st century is knowledge based and only those with knowledge, sound education and skills will progress and develop, then the North has its work cut out, as 16 Northern states excluding Benue, Kwara and Kogi has a total of about 73, 000 candidates out of over 1 million university applicants in the country registered to sit for the 2008 Jamb examination.

"This figure probably compare with Anambra State which has over 60, 000 Jamb candidates, while a state like Imo has over 100, 000, Kano State records less than 10, 000 university candidates. This shows that the 16 Northern states will produce less than 10 percent graduates of other states that will be produced in the South.

"What has our elites done about the poverty level in their respective villages. It is easy to open a micro finance bank now just about N20 million, so how many microfinance banks have been set up by our elites to empower hundreds of the villagers. This is what we are talking about when we say poverty reduction. Our elites should contribute to the growth of the North, this is a challenge."

Presenting his paper titled Peace and Development in the Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark, who was represented by the Minister of State for Special Duties, Elder Peter Orubebe, noted that the problem of Niger Delta can be solved but there is need for political will to fully address the issue. He stated that lots of money has been channeled to the region over the years but there is no proper monitoring to ensure that it is rightly spent.

"The problem in Niger Delta has been there for a long time. Different governments have made efforts to resolve it but to no avail. The problems include unemployment, lack of infrastructural development, impoverishment, net being part of the oil economy and being underpowered. The problems can be tackled and are being tackled by government."