8/27/2014 KEBBI REPORT ON THE RAPID ASSESSMENT PROFESSIONALS’ OF THE DEVELOPMENT STATUS OF GROUP KEBBI STATE AT TWENTY THREE STATE OF A STATE AT TWENTY THREE | BY JAMIL MUSTAPHA ANGO Table of Contents Appreciation........................................................................................................... ......3 Executive Summary…………………….....................................................………………………... 4 Background............................…………………………………......................................................6 Objectives and Methodology………………………………….... ..................................................8 Detailed Findings: ..............……………………………………... ................................................13 Critical Infrastructures: 13 Socio Economic Effects: 18 Participation of communities and Individuals in development: 26 Participation in Governance: 29 Summary of Major Findings ....... ............................................................................ 35 The Way Forward ...................….....…..................................................................... 38 Conclusion .............................................................……………................................... 40 References and end notes............................................................................................41 2 APPRECIATION It is manadatory to acknowledge the contributions of all those who made inputs and supported this work. In Birnin Kebbi; Bala Muhammad, Mansur Mustaph, Umar Shehu, in Yauri and Ngaski;Shehu Ngaski, Umar Dantata and Ibrahim Roro in Zuru and Dank Wasagu; Nasir Ibrahim,and in Argungu and kamba; Nasiru Usman and Nasir Abdullahi , Thank you all!!! - Jamil Mustapha Ango Birnin Kebbi, August 27th, 2014. 3 Executive Summary Kebbi state is one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was created on August 27th by the Military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. The state was carved out of the old Sokoto state and comprised four distinctive emirates of e; Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru. It has has twenty one local government areas; Aleiro, Arewa, Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Dandi, Danko/Wasgu, Fakai, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Koko Besse, Maiyama, Ngaski, Sakaba, Shanga, Suru, Yauri and Zuru. The administrative capital of Kebbi state is Birnin Kebbi and it has had eight leaders, between military administrators and elected Governors since its creation. The incumbent Governor is Alhaji Saidu Nasamu Dakin Gari, Sarkin Fulanin, Gwandu. The Kebbi Professionals’ Group, a new platform for practicing professionals of the state intent on providing their contribution to the development of the state, carried out a rapid assessment survey to among other things identify infrastructural facilities available in the state, assess their socio- economic effects, assess the participation of the people in development efforts and the political process made the following findings; Kebbi state created on the 27th of August, 1991 has indeed made much progress. The various critical infrastructures provided by subsequent governments have formed valuable assets of common wealth for the government and its people. 77.7% of respondents to this study along with participants of focus group discussions are satisfied with the development strides of the state. Key infrastructures available include government buildings, roads, schools, hospitals, clinics and electricity. Yet community members still stress their need for empowerment, employment, water and sanitation among others However, despite the huge infrastructures provided standard of living and economic health remains poor. This is evidenced by low GDP of 3, 280,0000, poverty level of 72%, youth literacy rate of 53%, primary school completion rate of 50%, secondary school transition rate of 24%, child mortality of 108/1000, Doctor-Patient ration of 1:74,000 and high unemployment rate among others. Perhaps this is why most community members want to be empowered and their youths provided with employment. The participation of communities and individuals in development efforts is very poor. There is no significant structure in terms of roads, clinics or schools provided by communities themselves or their notable individuals that could be traced in the targeted communities of this study. However there are records of various community contributed projects through the CSDP and the Emirate development associations Similarly the participation of community members, individually or collectively in governance is also poor, beyond casting of votes. Community members captured in this study seem aware of the activities of the Governor, far more than other elected persons, for which they rate him high. Yet their efforts at making inputs into governance or ensuring they get their needs met are weak. Even in the area of casting of votes, community members are likely to be influenced by local influential leaders, their family members, religious leaders and the incentives provided by candidates. Yet the major preferred means of reaching them with information is the radio, face to face interaction, posters and flyers among others Accordingly the following recommendations are provided; Government of Kebbi state should cause a further and more detailed study of the reasons for the low indices of development in the state, with a view to improving on them. Indeed there is need for a 4 detailed study to determine the real impact of the huge infrastructures provided by past and current governments. This should form the basis for a new blueprint, complete with a results tracking mechanism for the next government. There should also be a massive human development programme that should include recruitment of qualified personnel in the health and education sectors, trainings and refresher courses for existing staff and improvement of their motivation. Emphasis and funds should be also be allocated to water and sanitation, people’s empowerment and job creation which are the current top needs of the people. The government alongside the private sector should encourage and indeed participate in an aggressive setting up of large agricultural enterprises like the proposed Dangote investment. There should be one of such in each emirate of the state. Ample use of existing funding mechanisms should be ensured, such as the CBN agricultural intervention fund, the Bank of industry, Bank of Agriculture and the recent FGN 220 billion Naira SME fund. The KPG is ready to provide free services in the areas of feasibility studies and actualisation of these efforts. The existing investments in the abandoned industries such as the Fertiliser blending plant, the mini cement Factory, the tiles, neem oil and others should be re – assessed with a view to encouraging full private sector participation. There is the need to vigorously pursue an innovative job creation drive. Towards this objective, the government alongside the LGAs and other stakeholders should focus on increasing the employability of graduates, new skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. For example competitive programmes such as the YOUWIN and graduate internship scheme of the FGN should be replicated to support emerging and enterprising young men and women. The KPG is ready to provide free services on this aspect. There should also be improvement in commitment of government in existing skills acquisition programmes as well as provision of incentives to participants On the other hand the youths of the state should also embrace ingenuity and rather than wait for government, strive to improve their skills, knowledge and capabilities. The KPG will help set up resource centres to provide information and materials that will help with update of knowledge and self improvement. It will also organise seminars and workshops including career and mentorship talks in this direction. An elaborate and intensive enlightenment campaign should be carried out in the state towards improving and galvanising communities and notable individuals to embrace community and philanthropic activities. Government and stakeholders should support this by encouraging such efforts through grants and recognition for outstanding performances. Projects such as the CSDP should be replicated and more communities encouraged to embrace it. The KPG on its own part plan to start such a campaign as soon as possible, and showing example by embarking on some light projects in association with notable NGOs and CBOs. A similar campaign should also be carried out to further improve voter turnout and participation in governance. This campaign should have as some of its target improvement areas; the collation of community needs and its presentation to elected leaders, conduct of necessary follow ups as well as regular interaction between the electorate and the elected. A role for every one- individual, family, community, civil society, media, traditional, religious, political, and governments- all must contribute to the further development of their respective communities and state, wherever they are. The key question should be “what have I done for my state and people lately?” all must strive to do something for their communities and state and not the other way round- the state doing for him or her. Elaborate monitoring and regular review of progress or failures with measurement of progress. 5 Map of Kebbi state showing the boundary of its 21 Local Government areas BACKGROUND ON KEBBI STATE History Kebbi state is one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,