During the reign of General Sani Abacha, often referred to as a ‘maximum ruler,’ many unsavoury stories circulated about his feared Chief Security Officer (CSO), Major Hamza Al-Mustafa. Although I never imagined our paths would cross, I harboured a deep dislike for him.
However, a video clip I watched recently gave me pause. In the clip, a secretive group of white men discussed how the Western world must prevent African countries from utilizing their God-given mineral wealth to develop their economies. This monologue gave me the proverbial goosebumps and brought to mind several interviews Major (rtd) Hamza Al-Mustafa has given on various radio and television stations. Surprisingly, I found that his words reflected a deep knowledge of Nigeria’s challenges, spoken with a sense of religious conviction and fear of God.
The video, chilling in its implications, showed one man addressing others, saying: *”Gentlemen, the Middle East is screwed—we fought it. Now, six of the fastest-growing economies are in Saharan Africa. These countries are rich in minerals like coltan for our computers, cobalt for our batteries, phosphate for agriculture, and nuclear ore for power. These resources will be the focus of future wars.”*
He went on to describe how Western powers had engineered chaos in Africa to secure mining rights, revealing that in Mali, Western interests deliberately disrupted the government’s agreements with Chinese companies. After creating instability, these Western companies swooped in to secure control.
The chilling video reminded me of Al-Mustafa’s commentary on Nigeria’s rich mineral reserves, and how they remain untapped or are exploited for selfish gain rather than national development. Al-Mustafa often spoke about the vast deposits of iron ore, limestone, and precious metals in various regions of Nigeria, lamenting how this wealth could transform the country if managed properly.
It is Al-Mustafa’s firm belief that the Ajaokuta Steel Development Project, initiated during the Shagari administration in 1981, was deliberately sabotaged by Western powers with the help of local collaborators. He argued that if the project had succeeded, Nigeria could have become a leading global steel producer, supplying finished products worldwide.
During his recent visit to Niger Republic, Al-Mustafa reiterated Africa’s mineral potential, specifically highlighting the global shortage of iron—a key component in vehicle manufacturing. He suggested that Nigeria, alongside two unnamed African nations with significant iron reserves, could become a global supplier if strategic policies were implemented.
The revelations in the video, alongside Al-Mustafa’s insights, compel us to reconsider the influence of Western powers in Africa’s underdevelopment. From France’s exploitation of its former colonies—acknowledged by former French President Jacques Chirac, who confessed that France’s financial stability hinges on its control of African resources—to the broader strategies discussed in that secret meeting, it’s clear that Africa faces systemic, external sabotage.
As Nigeria approaches its next general elections, we must seek leaders who will prioritize national interests over personal gain. Leaders with the integrity and vision to harness Nigeria’s resources for the betterment of all citizens, rather than allowing foreign interests to manipulate the country’s wealth for their ends.
May Nigeria elect God-fearing leaders who can lay the foundations for the nation’s greatness, putting national interests first—a quality sorely lacking in much of today’s leadership.
Labaran wrote from Abuja
