Comparative advantage embodies not just natural resources, but a region s endowment of factors of production, level of technological development, and other variables. This should form the basis of trade among the states, and we believe the role of the Federal Government should be to facilitate and provide a suitable environment, i.e. basic infrastructure, and necessary regulations. It stands to reason for Balyesa or Lagos or Zamfara to exploit the resources and skills from which each gains a comparative advantage over others. The states or collection of states, and the federal government then have specific roles with a win-win objective. Nigeria is blessed with large deposits of natural resources.
Agricultural production is possible in areas where there are no fuel or solid mineral deposits.
Obviously, the distribution of natural resources is not uniform among states or regions. Even if it were, the economics of production or development may favor certain states or regions over others. Our point is, rather that frame the Resource Control debate in political terms, i.e., North versus South, it behooves us to conduct the national debate in economics terms. We should be thinking of the need for specialization of skills and production factors for comparative advantage. The world and history are replete of poor peoples blessed with large deposits of natural resources.