The Nation Newspaper

Tag: economic hub

  • Lagos vows to retain position as economic hub

    Lagos State will continue with its laudable programmes in order to retain its position as the country’s industrialisation hub, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    He spoke during the 2018 Africa Industrialisation Day celebration organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.

    Represented by Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Ambode said the projects embarked upon by the government were designed to create an enabling environment for industrialisation and sustain the state’s status as a prime investment destination.

    The task before the government, he said, was to encourage private sector participation through the implementation of policies and practices beneficial to the productive sectors of the economy.

    REad also: Policy on open defecation, urination coming in Lagos

    Ambode assured Lagosians of an open door policy aimed at harnessing productive potential, using the private sector as a vehicle of economic growth.

    The government, he said, was not oblivious of the challenges confronting entrepreneurs, stressing that it would engage the private sector to develop appropriate and sustainable solutions.

    A faculty member at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Salaudeen Jubril, said promoting regional value chains would accelerate regional, international trade and investment flows, increase competitiveness and facilitate industrialisation of many economies.

  • Katsina to become economic hub, says Masari

    Katsina to become economic hub, says Masari

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has promised to reposition the state into an economic hub of the country.
    The governor gave the assurance at an interactive session with the state indigenes resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
    Masari, who described the session as bipartisan gathering, said it was aimed at reviewing the various policies implemented by his administration since inception with a view to charting a way forward.
    He stressed that the goal of his administration was to create an enabling environment that would encourage both local and international investors to invest in the state.
    Masari said the government was open and not scared of constructive criticism, adding that such criticism would spur the government to be proactive and deliver more dividends of democracy to the electorate.
    He blamed decay in the state’s infrastructure to negligence from successive governments and relevant stakeholders.
    The governor said that stakeholders in the state had ignored the state government over the years, instead of holding them accountable to spur positive economic changes in the state.
    “We do not have reason to be where we are. Stakeholders in the state have decided to ignore and expect just few people to take up responsibility of changing the narratives of Katsina.
    “In terms of poverty, Katsina ranked third position; in Federal Government allocation, Katsina ranked seventh position; the state also has 15 honourable members at the National Assembly, ranking fourth highest represented state,” he said.
    He said the wage bill in the local government was about half, if not more than the allocation accrued to the state government from Federation Account.
    According to Masari, when he took over the mantle of leadership of Katsina, he found the state in a deplorable situation, adding that its health sector was in bad shape.
    The governor explained that the current administration had so far improved the state healthcare service delivery by engaging highly qualified medical personnel in the sector and upgrade facilities.
    He said as part of efforts to reduce cost of governance, state officials rarely travelld on foreign trips except occasionally where they are sponsored by host country for major functions.
    The governor, therefore, called on investors to invest more in the state, describing the state as investors’ haven, with assurance that his administration would continue to prioritize education in the state.
    Masari disclosed that his administration had introduced a number of empowerment and resettlement schemes to reduce redundancy and curb the activities of a notorious group in the state.
    “We have also intensified our collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to help curb the rising rate of drug abuse in the state,” he added.
    The Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Mrs Mariatu Usmam, disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to establish Katsina Teaching Hospital, College of Midwifery and Post Basic Nursing Institute.
    She said that the state government had renovated, upgraded and equipped over 100 health facilities across the state in the last two years.
    Senator Abu Ibrahim, representing Katsina South Senatorial District, hailed Masari for harnessing the great potential of Katsina through investment drive.
    The lawmaker said under Masari much success were being recorded in education, agriculture, health, water resources, work, housing and transportation.

  • Ambode: we’ll transform Badagry to economic hub

    Ambode: we’ll transform Badagry to economic hub

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has reiterated his administration’s commitment to turning the Badagry corridor into an international hub for business and tourism.

    Ambode spoke at a two-day Badagry Economic Summit (BES). The event is organised by the Badagry Convention and Visitors Agency (BCVA).

    Represented by his Special Adviser on Community Affairs and Communications, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the governor said it was in line with this vision that the state was determined to complete the 10-lane Mile Two-Seme international highway before the end of 2019.

    His words: “We have clearly shown our commitment to carry along every part of the state in a way that no part is left behind or disadvantaged.

    “We are convinced that every part of the state has a peculiar endowment which could be harnessed for the overall growth and prosperity of our state.

    “We see the landmark of Badagry and its strategic location as a gateway to West African sub-region and this confers on it, a natural advantage to become the main centre of trade and commerce.

    “It is in recognition of these potentials that this administration had decided to open up this access through the provision of world-class infrastructure that will attract investors to develop the economy and tourism potentials of Badagry .

    “We are determined to make Badagry a global hub for tourism  and turn the Marina into a hub for leisure and entertainment in West Africa.

    In his welcome address, BCVA managing director Ashamu Sewanu Fadipe said the Badagry Economic Summit is about Epe and Badagry divisions because of the developments coming out of there. He said: “The essence is to harness the potentials and putting Badagry and Epe on the limelight and also putting Badagry as a hub for economic development.

  • Akwa Ibom ‘ll become economic hub, says PDP candidate

    Akwa Ibom ‘ll become economic hub, says PDP candidate

    The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has promise to turn the state into an economic hub through aggressive industrialisation and agricultural revolution, if elected into office.

    Addressing a large crowd at the Uyo Township Stadium, he promised to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    Udom identified the airport and seaport as major gateways to economic boom, pledging to facilitate the immediate completion of the Ibaka Deep Seaport project and the second phase of the Ibom International Airport.

    While paying glowing tribute to Governor Akpabio for the tranformation of Akwa Ibom State, Udom said, with the deep seaport in place, there will be economic developement.

    He promised to ensure job creation through a vibrant industrial atmosphere that will boost entrepreneurship and human capital development. He added that his administration will also focus on the well-being of the common man.

    Emmanuel pledged to build on from the foundation laid by Akpabio, stressing that the brand new international stadium will  expand into other aspects of sports development to enable young Akwa Ibom people to create wealth through sports and entertainment.

  • How Nigeria can become economic hub

    Nigeria may be excluded from global business if it fails to develop core infrastructure that will position it as a global economic hub, Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has said.

    Delivering the Third Distinguished Lecture Series of the Think Oyo group in Ibadan, Oyo State, entitled: Infrastructure: a critical ingredient for development, Hamzat said transport facilities – roads, rails, ports and airports – have only limited cargo handling capacity.

    He said though Nigerians travel alot, there were no facilities to handle high capacity plans.

    Hamzat also said Nigeria has significant infrastructure deficit with a fast growing population and stunt in growth of infrastructure, urging the Federal Government to address issues of development quickly.

    The Commissioner noted that the infrastructure inadequacy has also worsened the unemployment situation in Nigeria, adding too that the low quality infrastructure has resulted in such social consequences as family disintegration and social dislocation.

    Highlighting the state’s experience on key projects, Hamzat said the dearth of skilled artisans, such as welders had slowed delivery of projects.

    He added that most skilled artisans and would-be artisans had taken to Okada riding business; a situation being addressed by the restriction on their areas of operation and the skill acquisition and vocational training centres.

    On the possibility of Southwest integration, Hamzat maintained that a condition of equilibrium must be reached wherein states involved quickly upgrade infrastructure to a level of equality prior to such integration.

    He said there was a collaboration between the states of the region.

    He further urged investment in maintenance to ensure that facilities reach their optimum at all times, adding that there would be challenges as long as built infrastructure are neglected.

    Hamzat urged the Southwest governors to explore the possibility of alternative road infrastructure that will ensure people move freely and faster while also creating jobs.