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By Tracy Moses
In a powerful appeal reflecting the economic despair of a once-booming industrial hub, Hon. Hassan Hussain, who represents Nassarawa Federal Constituency in Kano State under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has urged the Federal Government to follow through on its emergency declaration in Kano with concrete and immediate measures aimed at reviving the state’s ailing industrial sector.
In an exclusive chat with Pointblanknews.com, the federal lawmaker commended the House of Representatives’ unanimous decision to declare a state of emergency on Kano’s key industrial estates, Bompai, Sharada, and Chalawa, through a motion he sponsored. However, he cautioned that such declarations would ring hollow if not followed by bold and strategic actions.
“Without immediate intervention, these declarations risk becoming empty gestures while our economy continues to crumble,” Hussain warned.
Recall that Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the Lawmaker raised alarm on the floor of the House over the severe decline of Kano’s manufacturing clusters, which he described as the backbone of Northern Nigeria’s industrial landscape. Once thriving and employing over 1.5 million Nigerians, these estates are now shadows of their former selves, riddled with crumbling infrastructure, shuttered factories, and idle machinery.
Referencing a 2014 report by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which cited the shutdown of over 400 factories due to poor power supply, decaying infrastructure, and unfriendly policies, Hon. Haussian lambasted past governments for allowing such a critical sector to deteriorate. He also criticized the failure to implement initiatives under key frameworks like the 2017 Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), describing it as a textbook case of government neglect.
Expanding on his House submission, Hussain told Pointblanknews.com that Kano’s industrial decline is a symptom of a broader national malaise and requires an urgent, holistic response.
“We need to stop paying lip service. The Federal Government must show genuine commitment by executing the resolution of the House and assuring stakeholders that real change is underway. Otherwise, we risk deepening public mistrust,” he said.
Hussain emphasized the importance of easing access to affordable credit for small- and large-scale manufacturers as a first step toward recovery. He called on the Federal Government to work with banks and development partners to ensure local manufacturers have access to critical funding.
“In the short run, access to credit is non-negotiable if we want these industries to get back on their feet. Without financial backing, our policies will remain on paper,” he noted.
Looking to the future, the lawmaker advocated for a robust industrial policy that prioritizes domestic production over imports, shielding Nigerian industries from unfair foreign competition.
“We must deliberately protect local manufacturers by encouraging the consumption of made-in-Nigeria goods. It’s the only way to build a self-reliant economy,” he said.
The lawmaker also pointed out recurring challenges like unreliable power supply, excessive taxation, and decrepit infrastructure, which he described as key obstacles to industrial recovery. While acknowledging reform efforts in the power sector, he warned against a hasty removal of electricity subsidies without appropriate safeguards.
“Nigeria is not yet ready for full electricity deregulation. If it must happen, then the government must ensure real competition, increased efficiency, and reduced tariffs, or else we’ll make things worse for businesses,” he cautioned.
He further condemned the burden of multiple taxation from all levels of government, saying it discourages productivity and stifles growth.
“When manufacturers spend more on taxes than they make in profits, the system becomes counterproductive. We must rationalize taxation to promote growth,” he argued.
Expressing doubts about the government’s track record of delivering on industrial promises, especially under previous frameworks like the ERGP, Haussian stressed that legislative oversight will be crucial in ensuring accountability and implementation.
“Every resolution passed by the House must be enforceable. The Committee on Legislative Compliance must now step up and ensure that this declaration leads to real, measurable action,” he said. “Our responsibility is to the people we represent, and to the economic future of Northern Nigeria.”