Musa Ahmed Mohammed is the current Accountant General of Nasarawa State. He is a professional accountant with a PhD in Accounting and Finance. He served as the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2015 after he resigned from the services of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to join politics. In this interview, Mohammed, spoke on the developmental strides of Governor Abdulahi Sule of Nasarawa State and how the governor has been able to prudently manage the state finances. NATHANIEL GBAORON brings the excerpts:
Abdullahi Sule has spent six years in office as governor of Nasarawa State; what is your take on the journey so far?
It has been an impactful experience for the state and the country at large. Impactful because Governor Abdullahi Sule’s policies have positively impacted not only the state’s economy but also that of the country at large. It is to his credit that the world’s attention is drawn to the essential minerals that abound in the state and some parts of the country, with international investors capitalising on the opportunity. It is also to his credit that the country’s revenue earnings from the solid mineral subsector have increased substantially. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, confirmed this a few days ago when he said that Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, driven by President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s new policy of local value addition and a tightened licensing regime, attracted over $800 million in processing projects last year. He said the sector also generated over N38 billion in revenue in 2024, up from just N6 billion the previous year, despite receiving only 18% of its N29 billion budgeted allocation.
Having played critical role in opening the sector for investment, the federal government recognises the effort of Governor Sule in its transformative drive and has been utilising the opportunity. Don’t forget also that many investors have already established presence in Nasarawa State due to the favourable environment climate put in place by the governor. So, it is pertinent that the federal government collaborate with Nasarawa in driving the process and that is what has been happening.
The state is endowed with lots of minerals, which specific one is of interest currently?
The state is leveraging the immense potential of lithium currently. It is the beautiful bride. You also know that there is significant interest in our gold and tin deposits. However, the interest in lithium has been overwhelming, with investors sinking hundreds of millions of hard currencies into its exploration. It is used to produce rechargeable batteries used in cell phones, electric vehicles and grid storage, among others. You remember a few days ago, the governor and his deputy spoke on why Nasarawa will be the first state in the country to produce an electric car because of our lithium potential and the fact that notable companies are already on the ground working hard on the end products. The federal government’s value addition initiative is a welcome one, and this is working in our favour. As you will recall, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year commissioned the largest lithium processing factory built by a Chinese firm, Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited, in Nasarawa State. The company has the capacity to produce 4,000 metric tonnes of lithium concentrate per day, with an expansion plan to achieve an annual target of 300,000 metric tonnes per annum. And with a $500m turnover and $35m in profits and taxes in Nigeria alone, Avatar had a sustainable profile to turn around the state and the country’s economic fortunes in revenue generation and employment opportunities. You know, aside from Avatar, other companies are also prospecting for lithium in the state.
Aside solid mineral which other areas would you say the governor has performed well?
There is no sector that His Excellency has not significantly performed because, going by the policy document which guides the administration’s operation, all sectors correlate in terms of activities and performance. Take agriculture, for instance, you have big conglomerates establishing presence, injecting millions into the sector and boosting the economy, as well as employing the citizens. Over the last few years, because of the favourable business environment put in place by the governor, companies like Dangote Group, Olam Nigeria Limited, Flour Mills of Nigeria, and AZMAN Farms Limited have established agro-allied companies in the state. Dangote Sugar has acquired 68,000 hectares of land in Tunga and recently announced a plan to establish a sugar factory that can generate employment for over 1000 people from the immediate community. AZMAN, on the other hand, acquired 20,400 hectares in Toto LGA for rice production. There are many other companies that have indicated interest in investing in the state. For instance, following his trip to India and China some time ago, the state is expecting the establishment of assembly plants for two leading tractor manufacturers anytime soon. This is the kind of innovation the governor is bringing to the state. It is fundamental to state that the influx of investors is also made possible by the relative peace the state is enjoying courtesy of the proactiveness of the state’s chief executive. To secure the state for economic activities to thrive, the governor has been collaborating with various security agencies, providing them with logistics to be able to respond to any threat to the peaceful coexistence in the state. You can now understand why I told you earlier that the successes and performances of each sector are dependent on one another.
Let’s look at the governor’s infrastructural development strides especially the flyovers and underpass projects; how was he able to fund the projects in Lafia and Akwanga almost at the same time, while also planning that of Keffi?
One key characteristic of Governor Sule that is helping the state in its development strides is the prudent management of resources. The flyover and underpass are capital-intensive but critical in easing traffic congestion at strategic areas and reducing the rate of accidents. When he initially announced plans to commence the project in Lafia, many people were apprehensive, some were also sceptical that the project was an ambitious one, arguing that there is no way the administration can complete it and that it will be abandoned. But what they don’t know is that Governor Sule cannot set out to do something without planning for it. Work on the project has been seamless, as you may have noticed. The contractors kept going and never stopped working. What that means is that they were getting the funds for the project. Today, the project is due for commissioning. You can see how it has contributed to the aesthetic enhancement of the state capital, reflecting the modernisation and progress of the city. It is one of the legacy projects of this administration. The same vision birthed the Akwanga project. The project is a significant part of the governor’s broader strategy to modernise urban infrastructure, improve transportation efficiency, and enhance security in the region. Like all such projects, it is meant to provide more efficient travel routes for both residents and businesses; enhance pedestrian and motorist safety, offering a more secure environment for all road users; and stimulate trade, attract investment, and create new economic opportunities in the ancient town. And like the Lafia project, that of Akwanga is going on steadily and would be completed within the stipulated timeframe and according to specification.
Recently, the governor came out to announce the refund of money for the Lafia Cargo Airport, many see this as unprecedented because governors or political officeholders hardly make public such gesture; what will you say about this?
It all boils down to the issue of honesty and integrity that I earlier mentioned. It takes a honest man who has the love of his people at heart to do that. It will not be the first time Governor Sule would be doing that. He has been announcing whatever amount that accrues to the state as the funds come. He did not only declare the amount but asked stakeholders for input on what to use the money for. If you listen to our former governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s speech at the event, he made reference to the fact that Governor Sule is the first person he knows that have done that. That is what trust and honesty stand for. He also always ensured that monies are used for the specific purpose there were meant for.
In terms of health care, how is Governor Sule improving access to medical services for the people of Nasarawa?
Governor Sule’s administration has invested heavily in healthcare. Across the state, healthcare centers have been renovated, and new ones have been built. He has constructed health centers in the Gudi community in Akwanga Local Government, Assakio in Lafia Local Government, Toto Local Government, Karu LG etc.
The governor is committed to providing free medical services to the people of Nasarawa, particularly in rural areas. The impact has been visible, with more people now accessing healthcare, especially maternal and child health services. These reforms are part of the governor’s broader agenda to provide quality services and improve the health outcomes of our citizens.
Looking at the education sector, the North has been contending with the disturbing trend of out-of-school syndrome; how is the state government handling the situation?
Like you rightly pointed out, the phenomenon is quite disturbing, but the state government is addressing the problem in collaboration with the critical stakeholders. Governor Sule has also been working tirelessly to return pupils and students, especially girls who withdrew from schools due to different circumstances, back to the fold. I think so far over 16,000 of such have returned to schools and are doing well in their studies. There is a programme in place for the specific purpose through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), where the state and the federal governments, with the assistance of the World Bank, are collaborating. I’m optimistic with the relentlessness of our governor, the challenges, like others, would be a thing of the past.
So, you are saying that the administration has met the expectations of the people through its performances?
It has exceeded the expectations of the people of the state, and it has two more years to continue in its development strides. And like the governor has earlier promised, the remaining years would be better.
What is your general advice for the people of the state?
My advice is for them to support Governor Sule so that he can continue to provide the dividends of democracy for them. Today, wherever you go in this country, you will be proud of yourself as having come from Nasarawa State because of what is happening back home. So, the governor requires our collective support to further move the state on the path of development and growth.
