Nigeria is better off with Lagos than Niger Delta - Emir of Kano

The Emir of Kano and former Nigeria central bank governor, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has stated the commercial city of Lagos is a far more progressive state than the oil rich but restive Niger Delta region.

The technocrat-turned-monarch stated on his official instagram page that Lagos state was contributing 30% of Nigeria’s non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that it could do without oil.

‘‘Lagos can do without oil. This country is better off with Lagos than with the Niger Delta. Let’s not make that mistake. We should be together as a country. Every part of the country is important,’‘ his post read.

He noted that oil was just a raw material that did not have a future. According to him, there was no need trying to break up Nigeria over oil because with time the oil will be worthless.

“What is oil anyway? It is a raw material. You don’t drink it. You need it to move your vehicles. Now, you have electricity. You need it to fill your generator. Now you have solar power, and biomass. The future of oil is not there,” he added.

During his tenure as central bank chief, Muhammadu Sanusi (then Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) carried out some of the toughest decisions in streamlining the Nigerian economy particularly its banking sector. He jailed corrupt bank managers and dissolved bank boards for mismanagement.

He was fired by then president Goodluck Jonathan for exposing a non remittance of statutory funds amounting to $20 billion into the government chest. A charge he denies.

Months later, he was elected the Emir and ruler of the northern city of Kano on June 8, 2014 succeeding his late uncle Ado Bayero who had served in the traditional and religious role for over 50 years.