UNTAPPED RESOURCES OF KANO STATE

The exploration of mineral resources has, without any doubt, rapidly contributed towards achieving most of the technological advancement in every sector and as well played a major role in human development.

In post independence years, Nigeria has given priority to the mining of mineral resources such as gold, tin, and columbite, copper, diamond, lead, kaoline and silica among others. Likewise, the series of farm products in the agricultural sector has substantially added value to the nation’ economy.

 The process of some mining activities

Kudos to the landmark achievement of our forefathers at that period for proper management of the  available resources in providing social amenities and infrastructural facilities that are still existing up till date.

In line with this background, Kano state, apart from being the commercial and industrial nerve centre of northern Nigeria, is also among the states blessed with vast depositors of mineral resources that are of commercial quantity. According to geological surveys in the state, the presence of solid mineral resources discovered in some parts of the 44 local government areas are well defined.

Some of the axis itemised according to the survey include, Sitti-Rimi-Kibiya-Rano which believed to have a huge deposit of resources such as literite rocks that are of sound value for construction purpose. There is also the Riruwai-Dajin Falgore axis endowed with very rich deposits of mineral resources such as lead, zinc, molybdenum, silver, copper and lithium in quantities of economic value.

According to the research which was jointly conducted by Nigerian Mining Corporation and Gold and Based Metal Mines Limited revealed that almost five million tons of mineral ore reserves containing tin and zinc were discovered in the Riruwai community. It was also estimated that over 200 million tonnes of rock containing over 0.5 million tonnes of Niobium and Uranium ore could be found there.

Moreover, the Kaolin reserves in Karaye, Gwarzo, Shanono, Tsanyawa axis are enormous. The estimation of Kaolin deposit in this axis with Getso and Danbakoshi was estimated at over four million tons followed by the discovery of feldspar deposits at Karaye which was measured at 50,000 tons.

Furthermore, the considerable reserve of good quality glass sand in excess of three million tons which is enough to ensure the production of hollow and sheet glass for forty years at a production rate of 60,000 tons per annum was discovered in Kano metropolitan-Dawakin-Tofa-Bichi-Danbatta axis.

However, in spite of these aforementioned natural endowments which indicated the abundance of great potentials and economic resources in the state, the situation of mining activities almost remains stand still.

The solid mineral resources in Kano which purposely serves as major sources of internal revenue for the then Kano province is loosing its relevance gradually in view of the problem which may be unconnected with over reliance on petroleum resources at the detriment of others in the country.

According to impeccable source, foreign companies were once running the affairs of mining activities in Riruwai but suddenly withdrew their equipments as a result of the communal hostility which led to the vandalization of their machines.

Although, mechanized mining is still in progress in the state but the output of their production is not encouraging. Lack of accurate data is one of the major challenges of the sector in accessing the quantity of available resources to motivate the interested private sector.

However, amid the recent expert alert that crude oil may dry off in the country by the year 2015, expectation is now high on the need for Kano state government to strategize the necessary measures to recover the glory of mining in the state in order to pave way for more economic benefits.

Beside the fact that this action if executed would improve the economic standard of the state, would also serve as a means of tackling the lingering problem of youth unemployment that is contributing to the increasing act of social vices in the country.

“Charity they say begin at home” therefore the state government should make a step towards making a provision for the modern equipment that will facilitate the smooth running of the productions.

Media should not be left out of this campaign in order to speed the of process sharing the gospel of the potential resources of the state to attract the interest of private investors and stakeholders partnership with state government in respect of making Kano mining sites more efficient.

 

GHOST COPR MEMBER’ SAGA

The rapid growth of ghost civil servants is no longer news in government parastatals. This culture is a manifestation of how deep corruption has eaten into our nation’s fabric.

In a desperate mind to either legally or otherwise share in the national cake, ghost workers have for so many years been existing on payment vouchers to the extent that people have acculturated to the situation as normal life.

However, this social misnomer which is one of factors bedevilling the national development has embarked on its unprogressive campaign into the National Youth service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Almost 69 fake members of NYSC were recently arrested at the orientation camp in Keffi, Nassarawa state by Vigilance of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Set of the suspected Chost Corps Members during Orientation Exercise

Surprisingly, a nursing mother who people believed should mature enough to differentiate between right and wrong for her child was not excluded in this shameful business

Moreover, the situation seems the same in the Centre of Commerce where a ghost NYSC member was caught claiming the monthly allowance which belongs  to other corps members in three different banks. According to an impeccable source, the suspected corps member participated in the three weeks orientation course, took photograph with NYSC uniform (fully kitted) and he reportedly collected huge amount of money before he was arrested by the police.

Seemingly, the drop-out students in various tertiary institutions also admires the NYSC scheme without following the due process by meeting up with the requisite requirements of serving their fatherland. A question begging for an answer is that do they have the mission of national commitment or in a bid to benefit from the little amount being paid to corps members.

Also, to be more realistic that poverty and the problem of youth unemployment is still the matter of the day in the country, some corps members deliberately served in two consecutive years and were included in the pay roll of serving corps members’ monthly allowance.

It is no doubt that this attitude will not only thwart the effectiveness of NYSC aims and objectives but also tarnish the image of the scheme if proper measures are not put in place to curtail the situation.

However, it has also been observed that the action of ghost corps member might not be successful without the influence of some corrupted NYSC officials. The rigorous screening process during and after registration in three weeks orientation course is enough to uncover these perpetrators if proper supervision is exercised and the staff refrain themselves from any act capable of fuelling corrupt practices.

Therefore, the series of campaign in respect of adopting the developmental strategies to move the scheme forward will be more effective if stakeholders put all hands on deck to curtail any sort of unlawful acts of which ghost corps members’ saga is in attendant.

It is also imperative for the NYSC management to make a provision for the additional sophisticated facilities that will uncover the identity of ghost corps members to avoid giving the agitators a genuine excuse to defend themselves in the name of calling for the scrapping of the scheme.

Pragmatic approach should be given to monthly supervision of corps members by the concerned officials as it is scheduled in the line up activities of NYSC. Any official member found guilty of involving in this social vice should face the wrath of law and be punished accordingly.

Optimistically, the above recommendations will encourage that have meaningful contributions towards the grassroots development without any side attraction from this unprogressive union called ghost corps members.

Under the sun or in the rain, the struggle of selfless service for the nation must continue!