By Joshua M. Silas
Northern Senatorial Zone of Adamawa state is facing the challenge of re-balancing its economy and delivering sustainable economic growth. The areas of intervention of this proposal will be located in Northern Senatorial Zone. People living in this zone are in condition of extreme poverty and consequently they have no possibility to afford the costs of basic needs, such as shelter, education, healthcare and food. This is due to the aftermath of insurgency attack on the town.
The continued bombings, killings, kidnappings and the destruction of property by Boko Haram have become of great concern to the Nigerian government and the international community. The activities of Boko Haram have negative effects on the economy and the people of North-Eastern Nigeria, Adamawa North Senatorial Zone inclusive. Similarly, the activities of Boko Haram sect have led to economic, social and psychological implications in Adamawa North Senatorial Zone. The purpose of this write-up is to canvass the establishment of an enterprise zone by the Federal Government of Nigeria in Adamawa North Senatorial Zone .
Enterprise Zones provide a number of benefits to the developers, investors and occupiers of industrial and commercial properties through Federal Government full support, including:
100% tax allowances for capital expenditure on constructing, improving or extending commercial or industrial buildings;
Exemption from Business Rates for industrial and commercial premises;
simplified planning procedures;
exemption from industrial training levies;
Faster processing of applications for firms requiring warehousing free of Customs duties; a
A reduction in Government requests for statistical information.
The federal Governments will spend less as industries and individuals will play the major role.
It will attract foreign investors who will want to take advantage of tax holidays
Provision of employments for youths within and outside the senatorial zone.
It will bring faster development to the zone.
And it is sustainable and cost effective.
An Enterprise Zone is an area of a country, city or town in which state and local incentives and assistance are offered to encourage the expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new business activity and jobs. Enterprise zone is needed in Northern Senatorial Zone of our dear Adamawa in order give hope to the hopeless situation of our local indigenes and residents. The Northern Senatorial Zone Program will be administered by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Senate Committee responsible for Northern Senatorial Zone. To facilitate economic growth in Northern Senatorial Zone, special incentives such as 100% tax exemption are to be offered by Federal and State Government in order:
1. To attract top investors to the zone at no tax levies for a period of 5 to 10 years.
2. To provide enabling environment for the establishment of industries.
3. To activate urban-rural migration of job seekers to the zone.
4. To create new job creation among youths in order to curb youth restiveness and other social vices.
This proposal will be vital to the government, and the general public. It will contribute to economic growth and development of Northern Senatorial Zone. Furthermore, this proposal will generate income to the individual, private and government at all levels. This will create long term poverty alleviation among the citizens and other residents in the zone.
The people of Northern Senatorial Zone have got economic and social problems. The economic problem is lack of shelter, health care facilities and employment opportunities. Even though youth population is dominant in the town, there are no enough jobs to absorb them and there is very high unemployment. As a result the youth do involve in illegal activities such as theft, gangsters, restiveness and other social vices to sustain their lives. Common social problems are lack of recreation or entertainment centers, inadequate social facilities (health, education, and housing), etc. The lack of recreation center has led to engagement of youth in bad habits such as chewing chat (local stimulant plant) and drinking alcohol.
To observe the problems of youth one can easily go to the streets of Northern Senatorial Zone and observe the army of youth wondering joblessly. In every streets of Northern Senatorial Zone it is common to see them in a very large number crowding the streets without any work. If these are mobilized in organized manner, they can really bring about great change in their lives and in the society. Thus it is essential to act as soon as possible to reverse the deteriorating situation of the internally displaced and youth at least to maintain the sustenance of our generation. Their potentials could be used for the development of the nation if attention is paid to them. They could also contribute to attainment of our development agenda that we are hoping to attain. Recognizing this, we do present this proposal to the Federal Government of Nigeria and The Senate to fund this project so that the internally displaced especially youth so that they can contribute to the betterment of their own life and of the community.
This proposal aims to raise the hope of the hopeless IDP’s and improve the living standards of people living in Northern Senatorial Zone through entrepreneurs, educational, skills training and support resulted from enterprise zones across the community
The overall objective of this proposal is to create an enabling environment for the people of Adamawa North Senatorial Zone so that they can be self-dependent, contribute to the development of the community and be an active participant in development effort of our dear nation, Nigeria.
Finally this can be achieved through the political will and cooperation of our elected leaders who include:
His Excellency senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow (Executive Governor Adamawa State)
Senator Binta Mercy (Senator Representing Northern senatorial zone Adamawa state)
Hon. Abduraham Shuibu (Member, House of Representatives. Mubi, Maiha)
Hon. Musa Kamale (Member, House of Representative, Michika, Madagali)
Hon. Musa Ajayi (Chairman Mubi North local government)
Hon. Salihu Yakubu (Chairman Mubi South Local government)
Hon. Yusuf Mohammed OC. (Chairman Madagali local Government)
Hon. Idi Aliyu (Chairman Maiha local Government)
Hon.Emannuel Tsamdu (Member House of Assembly from Madagali)
Hon. DE Police (Member House of Assembly from Michika)
Hon. Sani Shehu (Member House of Assembly from Mubi north)
Hon. Abubakar Isa (Member House of Assembly from Mubi south)
Hon. Isa Yahaya (Member House of Assembly from Maiha)
Joshua M Silas wrote in from House No. 6, Masakare Jimeta-Yola. He can be reached on Tel: 08036080391
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