Nasarawa’s transition to an industrial hub at 30

Some 26 years after Nigeria’s independence, a state named Nasarawa in the old Northern Region now in North-central zone of Nigeria was established by then Head of State, General Sani Abacha. Nasarawa, thus, shares same birth day, October 1, with Nigeria. While Nigeria at 66 is a full, grown adult, heading towards being an elder, Nasarawa State is now a young adult, well past adolescent age. The state is maturing gradually.

Lafia, the state capital, was referred to as a ‘one street capital’, defined by the very long stretch of Jos/Makurdi road. Before the state came into being, Lafia was a sleepy city renowned more as a transit stop for long distance travelers and as a food market (melon, rice, yam, etc.) for big-time traders from especially the eastern part of our country. Then on October 1, 1996 it suddenly found itself bestowed with the status of a state capital; the responsibility seemingly heavy for its apparently naïve shoulders then.

Findings showed that Akwanga, more cosmopolitan at the time, was to be named the state capital but that General Abacha brought his primordial links to bear in selecting Lafia for the prized crown. Whatever it is, I think the choice of Lafia was not misplaced because there is more value-added when a virgin or semi virgin land is developed than one that is already on the development highway.

Nasarawa state shares boundary with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, Benue, Kogi and Taraba states. It was carved out of Plateau State. Before then, it was part of Benue-Plateau State. It was one of the six states created by Abacha from Nigeria’s six zones on October 1, 1996 while delivering his 36th Independence Anniversary speech. Others were Ekiti (South-west), Ebonyi  (South-east), Bayelsa (South-south), Gombe (North-east) and Zamfara (North-west). Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim superintended over the new state.

On May 29, 1999, Nasarawa got its first democratically elected governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, Turakin Keffi. The sole administrator’s main task was setting up administrative machinery for the new state. Notable is his construction of the Government House on Shendam road. This was completed by then Governor Adamu, enabling him to quit the two-bedroom flat at the presidential lodge that was his office.

Over the years, Nasarawa Government House, which was both residence and office of the governor, had undergone some touches and additions by successive administrations on its expansive land. It now accommodates a 1000-capacity banquet hall named after the second civilian governor, the late Aliyu Akwe Doma. There is also a Press Centre, guest rooms, etc.

Each successive government, after the military administrator, did its best, adding unique building blocks to the now 30-year-old edifice called Nasarawa State. Abdullahi Adamu laid the foundation stone. His efforts are most noticeable in the construction of rural roads and education sector. Some 30 years ago, Nasarawa State had no institution of higher learning save the College of Education, Akwanga, inherited from the old Plateau State.

Alhaji Adamu (later senator) established the Nasarawa State Polytechnic (now Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic), College of Health Technology, School of Nursing and, of course, Nasarawa State University. There have been additional tertiary schools since then. Among them, the Federal Polytechnic (to be converted to Federal Institute of Mining Technology), Federal University, Lafia (FULAFIA), and the Federal University Teaching Hospital.

Unlike all other governors who completed two terms, Akwe Doma, who succeeded Adamu, spent only one term. Nevertheless, he made a mark with especially his Badakoshi programme in which Nasarawa State was exporting yams to foreign lands, notably United Kingdom, thereby boosting the state’s agriculture sector.

Governor Tanko Al-Makura (later senator) succeeded Doma. Alhaji Al-Makura opened up the state capital with infrastructure, especially roads, giving Lafia a semblance of a capital city.  The modernisation of Lafia started with him.

Current Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule, a former managing director of Dangote Sugar Company, is taking Nasarawa State to the next level, which is industrialisation. In this connection, he has attracted some industries to Nasarawa state, particularly in areas where the state has comparative advantage, namely, agriculture.

As a state endowed with solid minerals (from where it derives the name ‘Home of Solid Minerals’) Governor Sule is now turning attention to this sector. His legacy project here is the lithium factory built by investor. It is said to be the biggest in Africa and is yielding the government humongous amount of money in revenue.

Indeed, solid minerals, or rare minerals, is the future ‘black gold’ that would replace oil which is losing its importance as nations seek cleaner energy. Lithium is used for the new technology of the 21st century, such as chips of smart phones, that are constantly evolving.

Thus, states that are rich in mineral deposits shall rank among the richest in future. Quite a number of states in Northern Nigeria are so blessed. But the challenge is attracting investors to exploit these rare minerals for commercialisation.

Governor Sule has set a precedent in this direction with the establishment of the first and biggest lithium factory in Africa. Nasarawa’s landscape is changing from a mainly civil service state to an industrial hub with the accompanying hustle and bustle of a thriving state.