Plateau the Mecca of Solid Minerals

Solid Mineral Collection

If you have never heard, Plateau State is a theatre of sorts, boasting of diversity in a couple of areas that stretch from tribes, vegetables and mineral deposits. It is the Mecca of solid minerals and, potentially, oil and gas close to its border with Taraba State. Thus, Plateau is a colourful theatre of mineral wealth.  

Before the last twenty years, Plateau has been known largely for tin and columbite, leading to its epithet of the Tin City. While tin mining lasted, other minerals drew no attention, since they had no economic value. However, with increased research and innovations, the economic significance of these minerals has soared, especially with the rise of monsters of technology like China. The need for wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels, medical devices, lights, lasers, satellites, fibre optics, batteries, better telescopes, as well as mobile phones, computers, etc, has been the impetus propelling the commercial values of the other minerals to the clouds. Thus, the breadth of the minerals that Plateau State can supply to the world has widened significantly. A large chunk of these minerals embraces cassiterite, columbite, pumice, garnet, rutile, wolframite, galena, sphalerite, fluorite, feldspar, aquamarine, mica, ilmenite, sapphire, quartz, amethyst, lithium, zircon, beryl, monazite, granite, etc.

Now, here is the ugly side of the Plateau story: it is one state with modest subventions, a situation that frightens anyone who knows what Plateau’s subterranean resources are. Just as oil-producing states get 13% derivation for oil taken from their land every month, solid mineral-producing states are also entitled to 13% derivation for any mineral taken from their lands. By comparison, 13% derivation to solid mineral states is trivial and changes nothing, ensuring that the economic plights of the affected states remain what it has always been. Take the Plateau-approved budget of N294 billion for 2024, translating to an average of N24 billion per month. This is inclusive of 13% derivation. It is miserable compared to what goes into the coffers of a small, albeit oil-producing state like Bayelsa, whose budget for the year 2024 stands at N489 billion, translating to an average of N40 billion per month.  

The huge gap between oil-producing states and solid mineral-producing states comes from the little attention the Federal Government has paid to solid minerals since the discovery of oil. The oil industry is so organized that only huge corporations like Shell, Mobil and Chevron carry out explorations, drilling and production. It makes transparency easy since the Federal Government is a partner in all these corporations and knows exactly the “country” share of the profits. In the solid mineral industry, though, this organization is absent. Companies simply pay for leases and get down to mining, paying paltry royalties to locals and taxes to the Federal Government. Whatever remains belongs to the company. What makes matters even hazier is the inability of the Federal Government to properly police the industry to prevent illegal mining, a category that falls below the tax radar. Thus, while the minerals are going, all tiers of government, including the Federal Government are getting robbed. This absence of transparency ensures that the 13% derivation paid doesn’t reflect the degree of mining activities taking place in the states.

In 2023, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, was quoted as saying that the solid mineral industry can contribute 50% of Nigeria’s GDP. Though third parties estimate that the value of Nigeria’s solid minerals reservoir stands at $750 billion, Mr Alake believes that this is conservative and with deeper investigation, it should run into trillions of dollars. Thus, proper organization of the industry will ensure that states with solid mineral wealth, including Plateau, begin to have enough revenue to deal with the economic challenges they face.

 

Why the Christian-Muslim Ticket Doesn’t Work in Plateau State

The Muslim-Muslim Ticket of Tinubu and Shettima

Nigerian is a nation where politics flows along religious and tribal canals. The sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a Muslim and picked a Muslim running mate during his election. This is something that is happening for the first time in the history of the democratic presidency in Nigeria. The issue has generated tons of conversations in favour of and against. The President, however, chose his running mate based on his calculation of how to secure victory.

I saw a video of an Islamic preacher from Kaduna State talking about why Kaffirs (referring to Christians) hate Mallam Nasiru El Rufai. He said that El Rufai is hated by Christians because he refused to take a Christian running mate and still won the election. The Sheik asked why it is expected of Kaduna when that doesn’t happen in Plateau State.

Well, I think he acted in ignorance.  There are three reasons why Muslims are not taken as running mates in Plateau State.

First reason is the fact that politicians work with numbers that will give them victory. In Plateau State, there are about forty tribes, but five stand out as majority. These are Berom, Taroh, Ngas, Mwaghavul, and Gomai. Since, our politics often follow tribal lines, a gubernatorial candidate would want to pick from any of these tribes to ensure victory.

Second reason is the fact that the Muslims consider it distasteful, giving their votes to a non-Muslim. In the decades since the coming of democracy in Nigeria, Plateau Muslims prefer bringing out a Muslim candidate and casting the bulk of their votes to him, despite knowing it wouldn’t be enough to secure victory. So, a gubernatorial candidate wouldn’t want to pick a Muslim running mate since it doesn’t change the opinion of his Muslim brothers. He would prefer picking from any of the five tribes.

The third reason why chances of a Muslim securing the seat of a running mate in Plateau State is difficult is the fact that Plateau people believe that, across this  country, a Plateau man has never been chosen as a running mate (and will never be)  in any of the remaining thirty-five states. So, why should it be different in Plateau State?

The Glow in the Plateau Mindset

When you stay in someone’s backyard, it gives you the space to see corners of him you wouldn’t have seen. On the reverse, when someone’s backyard is far away, he gives you the impression his place is like paradise, where everything is flawless. If you come against it, you must have proof to back it up. So, as long as you have not travelled there, his corrosive lies are fact.

When the Fulani issue started in Plateau State, many of our closest neighbours would beat their chests saying, “they can’t try this in our state.” Unexpectedly, the tide of events moved the conflict to their towns and villages. Their reaction, as a matter of fact, turns out even worst. I have stayed in a number of places outside of Plateau State. Everybody has a shortcoming.

Here on the Plateau, people insult the broad smile and open arms of the host. They would dish out that simmering vitriol like,” What does a Plateau man knows other than to drink gallons of burkutu.” They think that Plateau people are without ambition, just because they are head-over-heels in love with the Civil Service.

But we are not without decency. “Blessed are humble for they shall inherit the earth.” Being modest is not a reflection of ignobility. You will understand that Plateau is not a needy state when it comes to manpower. You will understand that military adventurism runs in the blood of the Plateau people. When in the mainstream of the military, Nigeria remains calm. Outside of it, Nigeria burns. You will agree that Plateau women are the most beautiful outside and within. To embrace people of all shades and hues with a smile is a virtue, in itself.  

There is a story that played up the worth of the Plateau humility. A Plateau man owns a house. He stays in Europe and wants to lodge in the house anytime he returns for a brief holiday. After staying for years without visiting, he saw it expedient to rent the house out. He, however, gave out his terms: “I wouldn’t want any tenant who isn’t a Plateau man or woman.” There you go! So, there is beauty in being a Plateau man, after all. It isn’t that there aren’t other people that make good tenants, but he wants to deal with the good he has always known. The worst a Plateau tenant can do is to fail in the rent payment. When that happens, though, your house will still be yours. It is better than renting the house to someone who turns the house into a den of thieves. He wouldn’t want a tenant who turns the house into a shrine, or someone to claim the house belongs to him, or a tenant who turns the house into a “baby factory.”

We may drink gallons of burkutu, but we like ourselves like that.