The President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Mr. Ishaya Idi, has expressed deep concern over the continued collapse of industries across the northern geopolitical zone, describing the situation as a major economic setback.
Speaking in an interview in Kaduna, Mr. Idi said the region, once a hub of industrial activities, has suffered decades of neglect and policy inconsistency.
“It is disheartening to see how industries that once provided employment and growth have completely collapsed over the years,” he said. “This decline has crippled economic development in the North and by extension, the entire country.”
Mr. Idi lamented the abandonment of key national development initiatives such as Vision 2010 and Vision 2020, which he said were designed to drive infrastructural growth and industrial transformation in Nigeria.
Recalling the achievements of the First and Second Republics, the KADCCIMA President highlighted that early administrations made commendable efforts in developing the roads, railways, and aviation sectors.
“The foundations laid in the First and Second Republics were strong and visionary,” he explained. “Sadly, they were neglected over the years, and that has brought us to the state we are in today. Those plans need to be revisited and improved upon under the current democratic system.”
Poor leadership and governance challenges
Mr. Idi blamed Nigeria’s current underdevelopment on poor leadership and urged a review of how leaders are recruited and elected at all levels.
Despite his concerns, the KADCCIMA President expressed optimism that Nigeria can still regain its lost glory if citizens and leaders work together.
