₦airaland Forum

How Kaduna is impoverishing Plateau with its quick thinking and sharp business acumen.

By Dr. Chinnan Mclean

The past few years has seen Kaduna state out-smart/out-wit Plateau in several key economic areas. These “wins” have left each of us (in Plateau) poorer, more destitute and beggarly quite frankly.

How has Kaduna done this? Well, firstly by enticing and wooing Plateau’s premier mechanised potato business out of its traditional home in Plateau to Manchok in Kaduna state.  Vicampro, an indigenous agro-allied company which was set up for operation in Plateau –with the promise to create thousands of jobs was enticed by lavish offers and concessions from the Kaduna state government. All-in-all, Kaduna snatched from Plateau, up to 1500 potential jobs, millions of revenue (taxes) and the agricultural expertise etc.

Kaduna offered double the land the company had in Plateau, lavish tax breaks and other key benefits which were not on offer in Plateau. And even though there was a political angle relating to its ownership by the past administration, the bottom line is that Plateau lost while Kaduna has gained. This clever act of business poaching has robbed Plateau of billions of Naira of revenue, jobs, expertise etc.  –thus impoverishing our dear state even further.

In the second and perhaps the most unfortunate case, Kaduna state has again stolen/poached another opportunity from Plateau. It cleverly and quickly expedited its inland port development so as to overtake the economic benefits of such venture from Plateau and other states. This means Kaduna becomes the first state to launch such a scheme and as such is in pole position to take advantage of virtually all benefits including taxes, supply chain, jobs, expertise etc. In fact, many Plateau based agro-allied businesses which were waiting patiently for the Plateau dry inland port in Heipang may consider exporting their farm produce through Kaduna –again robbing our dear state of precious revenue.

Being candid, Kaduna does not have a fraction of the agricultural endowments that Plateau possess. In fact, siting the port there may rely heavily on agricultural produce from Plateau and other states. But the government has cleverly realised that what Kaduna lacks in agricultural and natural endowment, it can gain in positioning itself aptly –and that’s exactly what it has done.

What is really a travesty is that, Plateau was the first to be earmarked for such a venture, but has again let itself down by being lackadaisical and whimsical. In fact, the big risk now with the Heipang project, is that some higher interests may begin to sabotage it to ensure that it never comes to fruition so that Plateau is permanently consigned to exporting through Kaduna.

It is very encouraging that Hon Minister Amaechi visited the site 4 months back and promised to expedite its development. Let’s hope the development is finalised soon – because it will unlock a lot of potentials in the Bokkos-Mangu-Barkin Ladi belt of the Plateau.

I shall leave you with the following questions to ponder:

● What is the state of completeness of the Plateau inland port –given the contractor promised to complete it in June 2017? Link

● How did Kaduna overtake Plateau in this venture even though, the Plateau project was started way ahead of that of Kaduna?

● Why were structures of the concessionaire Duncan Group of companies demolished in 2012, causing a setback to the project?

● Did the developers in Plateau not know that the state was already in advanced stages of developing this port and therefore potentially trying to overtake the Plateau advantage?

● What can be done now to expedite the development of this port to turn it around in the first half of 2018?

● What should be Plateau next line of action in the light of this advancement by Kaduna state?

Source: https://viewpointnigeria.com/kaduna-impoverishing-plateau-quick-thinking-sharp-business-acumen-dr-chinnan-mclean/

Front page: Lalasticlala

Lol the only reason this thread didnt pop is because there's no pictures.

● Kaduna got ahead because they assisted in building infrastructure like access roads and bought a stake in project.

● Jang was set back project because he was short sited and power drunk. He didnt care avout court order or benefit dry port would give him.

● Plateau should look into taking a stake in project and attract agro processing industries. The goal should be value added exorts.

Blue3k2:
Lol the only reason this thread didnt pop is because there's no pictures.

● Kaduna got ahead because they assisted in building infrastructure like access roads and bought a stake in project.

● Jang was set back project because he was short sited and power drunk. He didnt care avout court order or benefit dry port would give him.

● Plateau should look into taking a stake in project and attract agro processing industries. The goal should be value added exorts.

The same Kaduna that has a bigot as the Governor? The same Kaduna where the sitting Governor has failed to develop Rigasa, the town which hosts the only operating train station in the entire state?

The story about the Heipang project and Vicampro indigenous agro-allied company handling the mechanised potato business, is just a one-off issue, that has put Kaduna in the limelight. Out of the myriad schemes that Kaduna has failed to harness for the success of its citizens, it just happens that it got lucky on this one. While I agree that Plateau failed to put certain things in place, which caused it to lose out on the deal, the truth is still that Kaduna state did not necessarily do anything extraordinary to get the deal. It just engaged in some high-powered manipulation and politicking, behind the scenes. Or was there any record of the fact that the company made the same demands from Plateau state, (which it made to Kaduna state and enabled it to get concessions from that state), and such demands were denied to them?

The fact Is Plateau lost the deal. The same way ondo lost out on dangote refinery to Lagos. They werent willing to a mandate company high powered manipulation or politicking is business. The manipulation point comment is silly they werent tricked into taking lower taxes and more land.

Kaduna offered double the land the company had in Plateau, lavish tax breaks and other key benefits which were not on offer in Plateau.

The next issue is how they got beat in dry port development. Kaduna beat them to the punch there. Dont know about Rigasa but they did get invedtors like Dangote interested in bring auto factory there. The auto factor will use dry port to facilitate business.

LaudableXX:
The same Kaduna that has a bigot as the Governor? The same Kaduna where the sitting Governor has failed to develop Rigasa, the town which hosts the only operating train station in the entire state?

The story about the Heipang project and Vicampro indigenous agro-allied company handling the mechanised potato business, is just a one-off issue, that has put Kaduna in the limelight. Out of the myriad schemes that Kaduna has failed to harness for the success of its citizens, it just happens that it got lucky on this one. While I agree that Plateau failed to put certain things in place, which caused it to lose out on the deal, the truth is still that Kaduna state did not necessarily do anything extraordinary to get the deal. It just engaged in some high-powered manipulation and politicking, behind the scenes. Or was there any record of the fact that the company made the same demands from Plateau state, (which it made to Kaduna state and enabled it to get concessions from that state), and such demands were denied to them?

Plateau living their last 17yrs on fighting each other. Incerting religion and tribal issues among themselves. That's the bitter truth. West to plateau there is nasarawa coming to overtake them due to there closeness to abuja. Plateau should embrace the or keep blackmailing and decline to lowest revenue points.

Blue3k2:
The fact Is Plateau lost the deal. The same way ondo lost out on dangote refinery to Lagos. They werent willing to a mandate company high powered manipulation or politicking is business. The manipulation point comment is silly they werent tricked into taking lower taxes and more land.

The next issue is how they got beat in dry port development. Kaduna beat them to the punch there. Dont know about Rigasa but they did get invedtors like Dangote interested in bring auto factory there. The auto factor will use dry port to facilitate business.

You still don't get the point. Did the company ask Plateau for tax breaks, and more land, and they were denied those same things by the Plateau state govt? There is a lot of manipulation and political maneuverings that go on behind the scenes, which you do not see.

Plateau state has a dry port too. Jos Inland Dry Port is there. So the issue of a dry port should not have been cited as an excuse.

Ondo lost out in the race for Dangote's factory, simply because the state govt was not proactive enough and also because of the Niger-Delta militant activities, around the Ilaje area where the refinery would have been sited. This major security concern, was what made Dangote look towards Lagos.

Point being what there secret conspiracy nobody can see prove or specify. The most logical inference anyone can make for company leaving is tax breaks and double land. There's no press release of plateau offering more land or tax breaks. Why else would the company bother moving its opperstions if they get incentives and save moving cost. It wouldn't make sense.

Plateau doesnt have dry port yet. Its still under construction. Thst point is valid. The dry port probably wont be done till late this year or next year. Plateau wasnt proactive either so comparison fits. Doesnt need to be perfect anology.

LaudableXX:
You still don't get the point. Did the company ask Plateau for tax breaks, and more land, and they were denied those same things by the Plateau state govt? There is a lot of manipulation and political maneuverings that go on behind the scenes, which you do not see.

Plateau state has a dry port too. Jos Inland Dry Port is there. So the issue of a dry port should not have been cited as an excuse.