By Umar Dankano, Yola.
A Governorship aspirant of the Social Democratic party, SDP in Adamawa state Mr. Christopher Nathaniel has expressed zeal to optimize the natural potentials for the development of the state if elected as Governor come 2027 polls.
Nathaniel disclosed the hint in an interview with journalists in Yola stressing that, there are multiple natural resources lying fallow or untapped which if harnessed properly would transform the state socially and economically.
Nathaniel stated that his administration would prioritize the proper utilization of waterways to improve transportation and commerce between Adamawa and neighbouring Republic of Cameroon.
He explained that Adamawa would have been among the wealthiest states in Nigeria if previous or successive regimes had properly harnessed the abundant resources through strategic planning, technology and good governance.
He identified land, water and solar energy as the three greatest assets of the state, lamenting that successive administrations failed to optimize them for economic growth and job creation.
While promising to construct solar panel Assembly plant as another source of ge nerating energy (power) through sun shine available in the state, Nathaniel pledges to revive and revamp dams in the state with a view to improve the Agricultural revolution.
According to him, Adamawa has abundant sunshine and gas resources that can support decentralized electricity generation for agro-processing industries and rural communities.
He revealed that, through his private sector connections and involvement in energy projects, he would establish a solar panel assembly plant in Adamawa without direct government funding.
The SDP governorship candidate said Adamawa has no reason to remain poor considering its vast natural and human resources which would be used in repositioning the state through aggressive investment in human capital development, agriculture, housing, energy, transportation and industrialization.
Nathaniel disclosed that he intends to develop a detailed business and feasibility framework that would support the construction of modern aluminum cargo boats powered by stronger engines to facilitate faster and safer movement of goods across the waterways.
The SDP flagbearer also said he will champion stronger legislation to ensure that solid minerals extracted from Adamawa are processed within the state rather than exported in raw form.