Tinubu’s new administrative structure: Pathway or de javu

ABUBAKAR A. NUHU-KOKO 

Abubakar A. Nuhu-Koko of the Sokoto Energy Research Center (Energy Commission of Nigeria), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, is a researcher in petroleum policy and economics, and founder and pioneer executive director, The Shehu Shagari World Institute for Leadership and Good Governance, Sokoto, Nigeria. He can be reached on +234 706 330 6887 or aanuhukoko4000@gmail.com

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has created a new federal Ministry of Regional Development in his recent cabinet rearrangement or reshuffle. From the preliminary information provided by the Presidency the new ministry is to coordinate/supervise the old and new established Regional Development Commissions (RDCs) including: the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC – South South); the North East Development Commission (NEDC); the South West Development Commission (SWDC); the North West Development Commission (NWDC); the South East Development Commission (SEDC); and the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). However, no one knows where the Hydro Electricity Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) is going to be administratively accommodated under the new restructured administrative architecture, as the Ministry of Niger Delta has also been effectively abolished! One should not forget that, 51 years ago, Nigeria experimented with this type of regional development model (copied from the United States of America (USA): The Tennessee River Basin Authority (TVA);

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned corporation responsible for the development and management of the Tennessee River Valley in the United States. Established in 1933, TVA’s primary goals are flood control, navigation and transportation, power generation, agricultural and industrial development; and environmental stewardship.

Why was TVA established?

TVA was created to address severe economic, social, and environmental challenges in the Tennessee Valley, which included devastating floods, poor agricultural practices, inadequate power supply, high unemployment; and poverty.

Key achievements

Flood control: It constructed 29 dams, thus reducing flood damage by 90 percent.

Power generation: It built 29 hydroelectric dams, 11 fossil fuel plants, and three nuclear plants, providing affordable electricity to nine million people.

Navigation: TVA developed 652 miles of navigable waterways, supporting commercial and recreational activities.

Agricultural development: It implemented soil conservation measures, increasing agricultural productivity.

Economic growth: TVA stimulated industrial development, thus creating jobs and attracting investments.

Environmental stewardship: It protected and restored natural habitats, promoting sustainable development.

Affordable housing: TVA built over 15,000 affordable homes.

Infrastructure development: It constructed roads, bridges, and airports.

Notable projects

Its notable projects include Tennessee River system development; Fort Loudoun Dam; Tellico Dam; Watts Bar Nuclear Plant; the land between the Lakes National Recreation Area; and Tennessee Valley Authority Solar Farm

Impact

The impact of the TVA includes its reduction of poverty rates by 50 percent; Increase of regional GDP by 300 percent; the creation of over 100,000 jobs; improvement of air and water quality; and its enhancement of the quality of life for valley residents.

Awards and recognition:

Following its achievements and impact, the TVA received many awards and recognition, which included the following: In 1940 TVA received the American Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal for outstanding architectural achievement; in 1963 its power system was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark; in 2004, TVA received the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement.

TVA’s innovative approach to regional development has made it a model for similar initiatives worldwide.

Thus, the then Nigerian military regime copied the TVA model for replication in Nigeria and hence created first; two RBDAs (as pilot projects) in Nigeria. These are the Chad Basin and the Sokoto-Rima Basin Development Authorities that were established in 1973. The RBDAs in the country became eleven in 1976 when General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime added another nine to cover the whole country largely based on geopolitical exigencies 

Therefore, Basin Authorities in Nigeria started in 1973   and the two river basin authorities established were: Sokoto River and Lake Chad  River Basin Development Authorities. The RBDAs were created to harness and develop the nation’s water resources.

By 1976  there were 11 River Basin Development Authorities in the country established by the federal government with the primary goal of managing water resources for agriculture and other uses. The idea behind their creation was borne out of concerns about sustainable food production in Nigeria, particularly after the Sahel drought of the early 1970s (now commonly known as Climate Change effects or impacts)and the decline in agricultural output following Nigeria’s oil boom.

There are currently 12 River Basin Development Authorities in Nigeria, each operating within a specific geographical location. Here are some of the authorities and their areas of operation:

Chad Basin Development Authority: Surrounding areas of Lake Chad.

Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority: Areas drained by the Benue River and its tributaries from the international boundary to Pai and Donga River

Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority: Catchment areas within the confluence of Benue and Niger Rivers.

Cross River Basin Development Authority: Catchment areas drained by the Cross River and its tributaries

Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority: East of Niger River in areas drained by Rivers, Imo and Anambra

Niger River Basin Development Authority: Areas drained by the Niger River starting in the North from the river’s confluence with Malendo River and down to Niger River’s confluence Ubo River.

Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority: Covers Ogun and Osun states.

Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority: Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states

Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority: Niger, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory

Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority: Edo and Delta state

Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority: Jigawa and Kano states.

Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority: Niger Delta region

Each authority has its own management team and operates under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The interesting development here is that these 12 RBDAs are spread across the six or seven established Regional Development Commissions (hydro Electricity Producing Areas Development Commission- HYPPADEC inclusive) with similar statutory responsibilities and supervised by three administrative arms of federal ministries, namely: 1) Ministry of Regional Development; 2) Ministry Water Resources; and 3) Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), respectively. The trillion naira question is: Are we repeating the same things and expecting different outcomes? The RBDAs have failed woefully to deliver the much expected deliverables as the TVA had successfully  done over several decades since its establishment by the US government in 1933 (91 years ago). 

It is necessary for the Presidency to address this vital question under the ambit of the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA flagship sustainable development mantra). Otherwise,  it seems deja vu once again – business as usual.

• business a.m. commits to publishing a diversity of views, opinions and comments. It, therefore, welcomes your reaction to this and any of our articles via email: comment@businessamlive.com