January 02, (THEWILL) – Yobe State, located in north-eastern Nigeria, was created on August 27, 1991 from the old Borno State. Its capital is Damaturu and its largest city is Potiskum. Yobe shares boundaries with the Niger Republic by the north and Borno by the east; Gombe to the south-west, Bauchi by the west and Jigawa by the north-west.
In Damaturu, the wet season is hot, oppressive and mostly cloudy. The dry season is sweltering, windy and partly cloudy. Yobe occupies an area of 45,502 square kilometres to become the sixth largest state in Nigeria. The state is an agricultural area producing mainly maize, rice, millet, groundnut, gum Arabic and cotton. Its people also engage in livestock rearing and fishing. It has one of the largest cattle markets in West Africa, which is located in Potiskum.
In its 30 years of existence, Yobe State is said to have fallen short of expectation. The government identified that the three major sectors (education, health and agriculture) has suffered a major setback over the years. One of its major problems, from its early years, has been identified as environmental, such as the consistent threat of desertification. Most parts of the state are surrounded by moving sand dunes that regularly consume farmland, depriving farmers of their means of livelihood.
Natural Resources
Yobe is blessed with many natural resources that could be mined in commercial quantities, including potash, kaolin, gypsum gravel, silica sand, limestone, diatomite, gold, silver, tin, copper, lead, zinc, iron, nickel, chromium, aluminum, uranium and dimension stone.
Tourist Sites
Tourist sites in Yobe include Dufuna Canoe, Bula Tura Oases at Nguru, Dokshi Spring Water, Dagona Birds Sanctuary, Birnin Ngazargamu in Tulo-Tulowa, Kamti Festival, Barakau Festival, Old Daniski Settlement, Bade Fishing and Cultural Festival, Daura Old Settlement in Fika, Goya Valley, Hadejia Nguru Wetland and Damaturu Monument.
Agriculture and Industrial Development
Yobe is driving socio-economic development through various schemes. The state government and the Kingdom of Morocco are partnering in the areas of agricultural development and youth empowerment. Both sides will work toward the resuscitation of the Gujba Fertiliser Blending Plant so that farmers in Yobe State and across the country will have a steady and dependable source of fertiliser supply.
The agricultural partnership, according to the state government, will also explore date farming and animal breeding to tap into the vast agricultural and animal resources in the state and provide employment for thousands of people.
The state hosted the 38th Annual General Meeting of the Coalition of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA) in Damaturu in December 2019 to unlock her industrial potential.
Established 40 years ago, CONSCCIMA is the largest regional organised private sector body that comprises 19 northern chambers of commerce, including the Federal Capital Territory. It is also the biggest business assemblage, which has its headquarters at Kaduna, Kaduna State.
Governor Mai Mala Buni announced that his government had already commenced discussion on the stimulation of economic growth in the state with the encouragement of Public-Private-Partnership friendly policies having partner with Nigeria Shippers’ Council for the construction of a Trailer Transit Park in Potiskum and Family Homes for the building of 3,600 housing units across the state, the construction of an ultra-modern market in Damaturu; resuscitation of the Sahel Alluminium Roofing Sheet Factory, Potiskum; woven sacks industry, Damaturu and Yobe Flour and Feed Mills, Potiskum, among others.
The governor also took advantage of the gathering to unveil the investment potential of the state.
FACT-FILE:
LGA: 17
Land Area: 7.568 sq mi.
Registered businesses: 39
Public primary schools: 1,020 circa
Public secondary schools: 289
University (2): Federal -1, state-1
Polytechnic (2): Federal- 1, state – 1
College of Education (3): Federal- 1, state-2
College of Agriculture: 1
Nursing/Health & Science School (2): Federal -1, state- 1
Technical school: 1
College of Business Management: 1
Total Revenue: N57.21bn @ 2020
Total Tax: N 5.90bn @ 2020
Total IGR: N17.77bn @ 2020 (13.60% of total revenue)
FAAC: N49.43bn @ 2020 (89.40% of total revenue)
Domestic Debt: N54.86bn @ 2020
External Debt: $26.55m @ 2020
Unemployment rate: 50.20% @ 2020
‘We are Focusing on Education and Agriculture’
Yobe State was first hit by terrorist activities in 2009. The Boko Haram insurgency badly affected every aspect of the residents’ lives, especially the education sector. According to Governor Mai Mala Buni, to get it right in the coming years, the state has to prioritise education and agriculture.
Yobe is adopting a new approach to developing education, with the declaration of an ‘emergency’ in the sector. Determined to improve the standard of education, the state government is encouraging enrolment in schools and the provision of infrastructure that will move the state forward educationally. More classrooms has been built and equipped with learning aids.
In the last two years, the government awarded hundreds of scholarships to the people, mainly in health care, engineering, technology and agriculture. With two universities: Yobe State University, Damaturu and Federal University, Gashua, educational opportunities have been expanded. New modern markets are also being built in the major towns of the state. .
What informed this decision was the awareness that agriculture is essential to the development of the state and the country, as well as the knowledge of the devastation that communities face due to incessant encroachment of the desert. The government, therefore, recognises the role of human capital in driving its socio-economic development through education and agribusiness.
The first step taken by the Buni administration was to organise an agricultural summit. It was the first-ever agricultural summit in the state
According to Mamman Muhammed, a social commentator, this gathering of scholars, experts and captains of industry was convened with the aim of developing a strategic roadmap that would ensure long-term solutions on how best to harness the state’s God-given potential and resources in such a way that Yobe farmers can have comparative advantage in agricultural production, as it also finds sustainable ways to remedy the hazards of desertification.
A carefully selected group of experts came up with a road map and plan, which include, among others, drawing up an effective agricultural master plan based on practicable models, feasible schemes and copious subsidies.
The outcome and recommendations dwelled on the need for meticulous securing of sturdy implements and materials, timely procurement and subsidies on fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and other requisites. It also emphasised the expansion of utility of the industry through revamped storage, processing of produce and the facilitation of marketing opportunities to augment the value chain.
Challenging Factors: Insurgency, declining soil fertility, water shortage, poor infrastructure, adverse weather condition and sandstorms.
About the Author
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
