WASHINGTON — Nigeria is arguably the worst run of the world’s seven most populated countries. Despite earning hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenue over the past decade, it is expected by 2015, by some calculations, to have the second-most destitute people in the world after India. But its largest city, Lagos, which until recently was known as one of the world’s most difficult cities to govern, seems to have turned a corner.

Even though it remains a slum-ridden and largely impoverished metropolis, with an exploding population estimated at 21 million (of Nigeria’s 170 million people), it has seen steady improvement in its governance for over a decade. The government has enhanced public transportation, cleaned up streets, upgraded the business environment and bettered the lives of its inhabitants.

So Nigeria, of all places, may be pointing the way to a strategy by which fragile states might begin to succeed: Devolve more power to cities from their corrupt and overcentralized national governments. At least in democracies, the cities have promise because their elected politicians face pressure to deliver specific services to their constituents. In the central governments, which are more remote, there is too much power and wealth to be grabbed by dysfunctional politicians and their cronies, and too little direct accountability.

The emergence of fragile states is one of the world’s most pressing problems. Such states, which include Nigeria, Iraq and Yemen, contain a rising number of the world’s poor (half of the world’s people who live on less than $1.25 a day will be in fragile states by 2015, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and contribute disproportionately to the world’s instability and terrorism. They have become a major focus of international aid efforts, but it has proved very difficult to improve governance there.

The turnaround in Lagos can be traced to 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy and the city began holding regular elections. For the first time since independence, Lagos was able to re-elect its own leaders, or turn them out of office. And while national elections became a mud fight between elites to control the state’s enormous oil wealth, local contests forced candidates to show pragmatism and competence.

Citizens in densely populated cities find it easier to organize themselves. And in an ethnically and religiously diverse metropolis like Lagos, politicians could not afford to pit ethnic and religious groups against one another, a problem that has long bedeviled Nigeria. Simple geography also helped the city administration. The powerful and wealthy classes are more likely to insist on better governance when their own neighborhoods are affected.

And unlike national politicians, local leaders know that the better they perform, the more money their city nets. The better its roads, schools and business environment, the more likely companies will pay taxes, and individuals will buy goods and services, which also contribute to the tax base. At the national level, by contrast, the great majority of the central government’s income has little to do with government’s performance, since about 75 percent of the national budget comes from the $50 billion a year that Nigeria collects in oil revenue.

Can Lagos really save Nigeria? Alone, it’s unlikely — one factor is that the country’s population is expected to continue mushrooming to 400 million by mid-century — but Lagos can now be the model for transferring more authority to other cities, such as Ibadan, Kano and Benin City. And they, in turn, could help to shift the polarized national politics that produce the same cadre of unaccountable elites year after year.

For example, if local politicians were better able to raise and regulate local taxes, they would find themselves more accountable to the population. And they would presumably establish a more welcoming local environment for business to flourish, and perhaps start a nationwide chain reaction unleashing the country’s famous entrepreneurialism. If income levels rose, education and a rising middle class might follow. Greater affluence and aspiration, in turn, tend to act as a useful brake on population growth.

Elsewhere, other cities offer a similar lesson. In Medellín, Colombia, the city government outshone the national government in the late 1990s by setting up a network of publicly funded business support centers, investing strategically in transportation and security, and introducing its own program of cash grants to help the poor. Cities such as Chennai and Hyderabad in India have similarly outperformed India’s national government in promoting growth, educating children and reducing crime and poverty.

Can this model hold out hope for other fragile states? Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and Kenya all suffer from weak and dysfunctional governments, but have cities that could be the basis for a similar model of development. Regular local elections could spur significant changes in Kinshasa, Karachi and Nairobi, respectively, if the cities were granted more autonomy and the tax base was broadened to make government more dependent on local citizens and companies.

Almost half of the developing world’s population now lives in cities, and rapid urbanization is expected to increase this proportion to two-thirds within a few decades, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The city is now the main driver of growth and stability across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. And the example of Lagos shows that countries can begin to work better when their cities are well governed and thriving.

In other words, cities can help save countries.

Source

The man who did this, Fashola, is now a whisper as his party proposes Tambuwal as the candidate.

people wey de criticize fashola, una Don See?

Ikengawo: The man who did this, Fashola, is now a whisper as his party proposes Tambuwal as the candidate.

I thought this riff raff said fashola is just a flower Planter?

Ikengawo: The man who did this, Fashola, is now a whisper as his party proposes Tambuwal as the candidate.

Nice attempt at whipping up emotions. giving the current circumstance, If Fashola does not become Nigeria's President come 2015, no biggie. His antecedents precedes him. Nigeria will yell and cry for leaders and administrators like him when the time comes.

Lagos is really upgrading and leading no doubt about that

Interesting.

Slowly and surely, slums are being cleared to make way for a better Lagos.

Ikengawo: The man who did this, Fashola, is now a whisper as his party proposes Tambuwal as the candidate.

may it interest u that fashola was neva a do or die politician? He wasn't a fan of politics!

Dnt let it surprise u if he quit politics after 2015.

What he said he wanted to do, is making Lagos a mega state, laying down a lagacy for upcoming govrs for the development of lagos. And he has achieved his aim...

Dude, go and die!

sponsored post............damn even n newyork times.....i thought this only happen with Nigeria blogger

They will soon come hear and tell us that New York Times is a Yoruba paper

bishopjoe02: sponsored post............damn even n newyork times.....i thought this only happen with Nigeria blogger

E pain you say dem no mention your village, abi?

once a slum

Lagos is a country within Nigeria.

Ile-Ife:
WASHINGTON — Nigeria is arguably the worst run of the world’s seven most populated countries. Despite earning hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenue over the past decade, it is expected by 2015, by some calculations, to have the second-most destitute people in the world after India. But its largest city, Lagos, which until recently was known as one of the world’s most difficult cities to govern, seems to have turned a corner.

I thought PDP said Fashola is not performing.... even the external world knows and sees the impact. Tinubu the navigator; Fashola the actualizer...



The turnaround in Lagos can be traced to 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy and the city began holding regular elections. For the first time since independence, Lagos was able to re-elect its own leaders, or turn them out of office. And while national elections became a mud fight between elites to control the state’s enormous oil wealth, local contests forced candidates to show pragmatism and competence.

[/quote]

So there is a positive report from 1999 to date about Lagos

Citizens in densely populated cities find it easier to organize themselves. And in an ethnically and religiously diverse metropolis like Lagos, politicians could not afford to pit ethnic and religious groups against one another, a problem that has long bedeviled Nigeria. Simple geography also helped the city administration. The powerful and wealthy classes are more likely to insist on better governance when their own neighborhoods are affected.

And unlike national politicians, local leaders know that the better they perform, the more money their city nets. The better its roads, schools and business environment, the more likely companies will pay taxes, and individuals will buy goods and services, which also contribute to the tax base. At the national level, by contrast, the great majority of the central government’s income has little to do with government’s performance, since about 75 percent of the national budget comes from the $50 billion a year that Nigeria collects in oil revenue.

[/quote]

This is so in SW because we are never and can never be blinded by religion or clannishness, rather your track record and performance level. we hardly give a non-performer a return ticket unlike other regions in Nigeria.

[/quote]
Can Lagos really save Nigeria? Alone, it’s unlikely — one factor is that the country’s population is expected to continue mushrooming to 400 million by mid-century — but Lagos can now be the model for transferring more authority to other cities, such as Ibadan, Kano and Benin City. And they, in turn, could help to shift the polarized national politics that produce the same cadre of unaccountable elites year after year.

[/quote]
Lagos can save Nigeria if and only if they bow to our superior leadership ability over their parochial and ethnic bigotry. When it was totally clear Awolowo was miles ahead of his peers in the first republic, they did not allow him yet their children and great grand children today accuse Awolowo of tribalism and ethnic bigotry when he finally faced his own people. He offered to serve but they blocked him yet they watched the television he brought to Africa, worked in the industrial estates he designed and created from Ikeja to Ibadan, sent their children to schools he used cocoa money to establish. Posterity will judge them all.

For example, if local politicians were better able to raise and regulate local taxes, they would find themselves more accountable to the population. And they would presumably establish a more welcoming local environment for business to flourish, and perhaps start a nationwide chain reaction unleashing the country’s famous entrepreneurialism. If income levels rose, education and a rising middle class might follow. Greater affluence and aspiration, in turn, tend to act as a useful brake on population growth.
[/quote]
They wont listen, they said they are practicing Republican system of govt and not Socialism nor Mixed Economy (combination of Capitalism and Socialism). They dont believe in IGR, so they depend on Abuja for everything, therefore, they must lick the butt of any sitting president.


Almost half of the developing world’s population now lives in cities, and rapid urbanization is expected to increase this proportion to two-thirds within a few decades, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The city is now the main driver of growth and stability across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. And the example of Lagos shows that countries can begin to work better when their cities are well governed and thriving.
[/quote]

Other serious governors are following the footstep of Fashola- Oshiomole, Ajimobi, Amosun,etc Aregbesola has his own template and blue print but he is also performing.


Source[/quote]

The Long and short is politics apart, Fashola is the best. I love the man.

I didnt hear them say trade is what makes a city, they said governance and accountability grows a city, in other words, Administration!

Also, they hinted that the next tier of growth cities are Ibadan, Kano and Benin, all APC states!

Ikengawo: The man who did this, Fashola, is now a whisper as his party proposes Tambuwal as the candidate.

When world leaders come to Nigeria and only stop at Lagos to see Fashola, not bothering to step foot in Abuja, should that not tell you Fashola is better in Lagos?

ImperialYoruba: I didnt hear them say trade is what makes a city, they said governance and accountability grows a city, in other words, Administration!

Also, they hinted that the next tier of growth cities are Ibadan, Kano and Benin, all APC states!

Commerce and trade makes a city I'm sure u know this. Lagos is known as the commercial capital of Nigeria.
That Fashola is a good administrator will not change this fact

that's why Akpabio relocated to Lagos. The man (brf) really tried... Same goes to all S-west states exp. oyo nd ogun state, transformation nd reformation is happening.

Eko oni baje!!!!!!

ba7man: E pain you say dem no mention your village, abi?

my village beta pass lag....we nor dey pay tax to do anytin and our university dey affordable to d common man...

bishopjoe02:
my village beta pass lag....we nor dey pay tax to do anytin and our university dey affordable to d common man...

Wow nice, where are you from?

Ile-Ife:


Wow nice, where are you from?

ask seun

About $60bn spent since 1999 by LASG, yet fire service fleet had no water to put out fire that killed over 20 people and burnt businesses at Berger Suya? Naija is irredeemable!

Proud of Lagos. That's my home state - and we built our city.

I don't like the dirtiness in politics, but I would like to govern Lagos in future! Over-qualified already, but still too young. Someone take me under your wings!

Repping Lagos till I D.I.E!

adconline: About $60bn spent since 1999 by LASG, yet fire service fleet had no water to put out fire that killed over 20 people and burnt businesses at Berger Suya? Naija is irredeemable!

go and tell NEPA.

capricon:

Commerce and trade makes a city I'm sure u know this. Lagos is known as the commercial capital of Nigeria.
That Fashola is a good administrator will not change this fact

New York Times just confirmed the sermon we have preached to you day after day, re - Administration is the enabler of society!

geeez: Tinubu started the work and handed over to Fashola

Their combined efforts has stood the state out

People can criticize all they want but it is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf

Lagos is working

EMPTY BARRELS MAKE THE MOST NOISE .


we were all once primary school pupils .
We all know that the classroom dullards are also the biggest nuisance in the class.


ONLY DISHONEST FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THEIR CLANNISH CAVES WILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT.

THE SW REPRESENTS THE FINEST NIGERIA HAS TO OFFER.

ONE OF WHICH IS THE FINEST ADMISTRATOR IN

FASHOLA.

There are others in the stables .making effort to do the high level strategic stuffs

Like

Aregbesola - reforms in education
Amosun- Abeokuta City centre



TINUBU ALSO MEANT WELL ,THE REASON HE SEARCHED AND SEARCHED UNTIL HE GOT IT RIGHT.
UNLIKE THE CALAMITOUS AND HAPLESS OBASANJO ,WHO HAD THE GOOD STUFFS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM ,BUT ENDED UP CHOOSING LAGGARDS .3 TIMES.
Shagari
Yaradua
GEJ.

django1: Lagos is a country within Nigeria.

ODUA STATE IS A COUNTRY WITHIN NIGERIA AND WE ARE SUFFERING FROM EXCESSIVE IMMIGRATION ,PUSHING OUR CITIZENS OUT OF LOW SKILLED JOBS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THEIRS

If all ethnic groups as well as people form adjoining west African countries have thrived and co-habited successfully in Lagos for over many years - perhaps b/c of Lagos former national capital statue, I kept on wondering why we find it difficult to repeat same in other states and at the national. A food for thought for all.

lagos leads,
watch out for ogun and ibadan in the coming years.
they are also almost there.
south west is moving.
i dnt see where they wrote some tribe developed lagos