Imperatives of Rethinking Development of Plateau

1 . Rethinking Leadership: Plateau State requires an alternative leadership at this time in national history. The need of the hour is for a value based no excuse ethical visionary servant/father leadership with requisite competencies to engage the emerging context and possible futures that has the capacity to make or sink the state deeper into misery depending on the capacity of the leader and his or her team to reposition the state and steer it to safe harbor.

2. Rethinking Economic dependency on financing Economic growth: The convergence of triple waves- COVID-19, Climate Change and Recession in 2020 triggered a global economic crisis with attendant pressure on Nigeria’s oil dependent economy as global oil prices crashed resulting in low demand, low earnings from oil and shrinking of the national economy by 1.8 per cent in 2020. We note that Plateau State is dependent on oil revenues from the Federation Account to the tune of 73 per cent (Boston Consulting Group, Plateau state Development Strategy, 2019-2023). Plateau state is 33/36 in terms of state sustainability when compared with other states in the federation. Added to this is that Plateau State’s debt profile is unsustainable. The conclusion here is that without monthly Federal allocations Plateau state cannot survive. The emerging team of leadership needs to roll up their sleeves to begin the hard work.

3. Rethinking Development assumptions and growth path: The current oil-based economic development path, which Plateau State and indeed, all the states in Nigeria have followed historically, is unsustainable given the frequent changes in international oil prices and its effects on the economies of not only the Federal Government but also the economies of State governments. Additionally given the current transition to alternative energies, the implication is that Plateau state must develop and adopt an alternative logic to drive economic development. Plateau State needs to set forth a clear path for transitioning from an oil based economy in order to prepare the state to withstand the adverse winds which would emerge as global transitions are made from a linear fossil driven economy to a sustainable circular economic pathway. This it can do by developing and adopting a new Plateau State Green growth strategy.

4. Rethinking Plateau’s brand Assets: In 2013, a FinnishAmerican visited Plateau state and was so captivated by the Tomatoes produced in Jos given that its premium quality, fresh and clean. She became inspired to set up Tomato Jos An agro-processing venture in Kaduna. In 2020 the firm attracted $4.2 million investments while as at September 8th 2021 the firm received an additional N494 million grant from USAID-funded. What this says to us is that if Plateau state puts its act together the required financing can be secured. Beyond this is that the state has more than twenty five brand assets that can shift it from an oil dependent state. Tomato is just one. What about Jos eggs, Jos vegetables etc? The new team in Plateau State needs to arise early enough to being putting coherent plans in place there is a lot of work to do.

5. Rethinking Security: People often argue that the crisis in Jos scares investors. While business needs a secure environment, the assumption about the insecurity in Plateau state and investments is not completely true. From 20162021 Kaduna state with the more challenging security environment attracted $2.6billion Local and Foreign investment into the state. If investments can pour into Kaduna state in spite of the fact that the state is daily in the news for the wrong reasons, it implies that Plateau state’s emerging leadership needs to prepare to engage differently. 6. Rethinking Unity and diversity: Plateau State ethnic nationalities need to jettison the ‘small minded approach’ to managing the indigenous ethnicities and diversity. Tragically the past government through actions essentially was perceived as a ‘Berom government’, the current government is perceived as that of the ‘Ankwes (Shendam) and the Afizeres. This perception of sends a message that excludes rather than includes. The implication is that it becomes difficult to get the consensus needed to drive development.

7. Rethinking Faith: Plateau is a ‘religious’ capital of some sort to the extent that Christians and Muslims are ready to shed human blood for the sake of their religion. Tragically, this level of commitment and piety does not support development through providing the required ethical infrastructure to drive development. True faith cannot coexist with the scandalous level of misery, poverty, pain and injustice manifest in the state.

8. Rethinking innovation and development: Plateau state has a vibrant, creative and innovative youth population. The state should leverage on its innovative youth population to seed a culture of innovation driven by a knowledge economy.

• Samuel DanAuta Kyarshik

Challenging Factors: Insecurity, communal clashes, closed businesses, poor road networks, multiple taxes.