The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, KACRAN, has called on the 19 Northern Governors and the FCT Minister to urgently rebuild the Northern Nigeria Development Company, NNDC, as a solution to the region’s economic decline and worsening insecurity.
In a press statement signed by its National President, Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello and made available to journalists on Saturday, KACRAN described the current state of NNDC as “moribund and incapacitated” due to years of neglect by successive administrations.
The association recalled that NNDC, established in 1949 under the defunct Northern Regional Government and championed by the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, served as the investment arm of the North.
“It drove development in agriculture, industry, finance, energy, and infrastructure, and enabled the region to compete nationally and globally.
“NNDC and its subsidiaries recorded extraordinary successes across all sectors including financial services, real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, and solid minerals.
“Institutions like the Bank of the North and our textile industries made the North an exporter of finished goods”, the statement said.
KACRAN said the collapse of NNDC has coincided with a demographic explosion, unprecedented insecurity, and the collapse of agriculture and industry in the North.
The group noted that Nigeria is projected to become the 3rd most populous country by 2030, with the majority in the North.
“Northern Nigeria is currently facing the gravest security challenges in its history.
“Innocent people are being killed and their means of livelihood destroyed,” KACRAN stated.
The Association, however, proposed 5-point roadmap to reverse the trend and this includes: reviving the textile industry in all 19 Northern States and FCT, establishing agricultural and commercial banks for soft loans, and harnessing solar energy to build industries.
KACRAN also called for immediate exploration of mineral resources and asked each state to contribute ₦2 billion monthly as seed funding to reclaim NNDC assets.
It said reviving NNDC will restore it as the economic engine of the North, and urged the Northern Governors Forum to adopt the plan immediately.
KACRAN said it is ready to work with the Northern Governors Forum to ensure the historic revival is achieved.
Revive NNDC to end economic hardship, regional insecurity – KACRAN tells northern governors