The often used phrase that Plateau State is one of the poorest states in Nigeria is far from the truth if statistics on the natural resources God has bestowed upon the state is anything to go by.
The fact that successive administrations have neglected these potentials and are only dependent on handouts from the Federal Government allocations over the years does not in anyway, mean that the state cannot look inwards and generate its own resources.
There is no gain saying that the there are certain laws inhibiting states from tapping into their their own deposits does not mean that the state government cannot find a way to harness these resources for its own good.
Available statistics has shown that Plateau State is the richest state in Nigeria in terms of mineral resources deposits.
According to Brittanica, Plateau State is the state in Nigeria that has the most mineral deposits followed by Kaduna and Nasarawa States respectively.
Going by the data, Plateau State has 22 recorded mineral resources, the highest so far, while the other two, Kaduna and Nasarawa, have 20 each.
Plateau is blessed with the world’s largest known deposits of columbite, an ore of niobium found associated with tin, which have been exploited since the 1940s.
If you go to local communities in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Bokkos, Riyom, Pankshin and Bassa, you will see young men and women engaged in local tin mining, using crooked methods to extract and mine the product.
If the government should think forward and take the industry into serious consideration, the state will be sitting on a gold mine.
Smaller quantities of tantalite, wolfram (tungsten), kaolin, zircon, and uranium are also mined in these areas while lead and iron ore are found in eastern and central Plateau State.
Agriculture is another area that has been neglected and if given the proper attention, has the potential of turning out to be a great revenue generator for the state.
Plateau State is blessed in agricultural products like Irish Potatoes, Maize, Guinea Corn, Yam, Rice, Acha, Tomatoes, Garden Eggs, Cucumber, Watermelon and other vegetables that are potential income generation.
The question now is: why has successive governments, both at Federal, State and Local levels not tapped into these natural resources and create a viable economy for the people instead of running to Abuja for stipends every month?
Why not create industrial space spaces to annex these resources thereby creating employment opportunities for the unemployed youths in the state?
Is it a lack of vision or laziness on the part of government or just a lackadaisical approach to governance?
What is your take on this?
Nice may God bless you