Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Saturday said that one of his administration’s objectives was to propel the State from being the fifth to the third largest economy in Africa.

He said to achieve this, the state government would focus more on Education (especially vocational training), scaling up of its health facilities, including renewal and building of world class infrastructure in the coming year.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Christmas Eve Dance organised by the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, said he remains committed to making the State globally competitive, adding that by virtue of its indices, Lagos has become a major City-State in the world.

He said that Lagos is currently home to 65 percent of Nigeria’s businesses, with a presence of over 2,000 manufacturing companies, 200 financial institutions and the largest collection of small and medium enterprises in Africa.

The Governor added that with an estimated population of about 24 million people, over 15.2 million are within the ages of 15-64 years, which positions the State as having the largest share of working population in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“We are Africa’s fastest growing market and still the 5th largest economy in Africa with a GDP of $91billion. The drop in our GDP value from $131billion is as a result of the fluctuation in Foreign Exchange but our ultimate goal is to grow our GDP to move from 5th to 3rd largest in Africa,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor also restated his commitment to deliver a Lagos that is safe, clean and prosperous as well as a city that works for all regardless of race, religion or gender.

Governor Ambode, while also congratulating the Club on its 90th Year Anniversary thanked them for the massive support given to his administration in the outgoing year.

Also speaking at the Christmas Eve Dance of the Island Club, Governor Ambode expressed optimism that with the Y2017 “Golden Jubilee” Budget currently undergoing consideration by the House of Assembly, the State was adequately positioned to record milestone developments in the coming year.

“Apart from the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration, 2017 will witness the commencement and completion of critical infrastructure that will create new economies in the State, facilitate growth and propel the State economy to enviable heights.

“To underscore the importance attached to these developmental projects, we improved on the Capital/Recurrent Expenditure Ratio in the 2017 budget with 63:37 compared to 58:42 in the 2016 budget.

“We are about to conclude our Bond Issuance and the proceeds from these will go to fund these projects and many others. In addition, we will enter into strategic Public Private Partnerships to execute some key projects in the State.

He said the Government has also identified tourism as a key component of its plan to diversify the State’s economy, saying that over N20billion was earmarked for tourism initiatives in the 2017 budget, just as he disclosed that Badagry, Lagos Island and Epe are tourism hubs that would be developed to make Lagos one of the foremost tourism destinations in Africa.

“In the short to medium term, our reform in the solid waste collection and disposal will help us achieve our vision of cleaner Lagos. As 25% of Lagos is covered by water, we shall leverage on water transportation, in combination with rail and road networks to provide Lagosians with integrated transportation system that will reduce travel time. We will continue to invest in security and power generation and distribution to achieve a 24 hour economy for Lagos.

“The whole idea behind this aggressive pursuit of dividends of democracy is to reflate the economy and ensure continuous provision of direct and indirect jobs at a critical time in our nation,” the Governor said.

https://dailytimes.ng/targets-make-lagos-third-largest-economy-africa-ambode/

That's Good.
Thanks to the sea port.,boarders.,Airport and tax payers

we are patiently waiting 4 that 2 appn

Excellent...visionary...competent... Best performing governor at the moment is Ambode...
Eko oni baje oo...

In this recession? Coupled with the weak naira?? It a no no

Draei:

Third? why settle for less? Crap.!

whn will u stop this hate. It's few days to 2017. U need to change.
Having a projection of being the 3rd Largest economy in Africa 4rm 5th place is a welcome development. It shows a man driven by clear-cut vision. A competent man.

jerrythafinisher:
In this recession? Coupled with the weak naira?? It a no no

pls tell us what is "a no no" here?

You mean better than Angola, Lybia and others? That means the gap between Nigeria and the 2nd economy would be very wide.

Draei:

You really need to download an Oxford
dictionary then check the meaning of hate.
Aim higher in life, You wanna sit 3rd in class
cuz you were 5th huh? Alright, nuff said.

A Step is an improvement

Draei:

You really need to download an Oxford
dictionary then check the meaning of hate.
Aim higher in life, You wanna sit 3rd in class
cuz you were 5th huh? Alright, nuff said.

This is nt rocket science man. It takes a great amount of works nd planning to even move up the ladder by one step.
Who told u the other economies are sleeping? They too are equally planning nd working with the best of expertise at their disposal with all hands on deck.
If gov. Ambode had mentioned that he wants lagos to become the first, i'll ve taken him as a joker nd an unserious man.
It's good that Lagos has set 3rd as the target (remember they ve to displace the current 3rd nd 4th). Whn the achieve that feat in the years (yes, years) to come, they can then evaluate their goals nd visions, restrategise nd the set a new goal/vision which shld then be to become the 2nd largest nd then, more hardworks begin again.
Hope u understand the work involved nw.

Atiku2019:




A Step is an improvement

thank u very much. He doesn't understands that.
He thinks to build a large economy dey very easy.
If na so, Nigeria shld ve become the Largest economy in the world with all the grammars coming 4rm d CBN governor nd d finance minister everyday.

Draei:

You don't get, aim for the best position and if
at all you don't make that target, you will find
yourself getting the 2nd or 3rd position which
wouldn't be a bad result cuz you never settled for less.

ok oo... I don hear bt hope u aint taking this like a primary school position thing.

Draei:

You really need to download an Oxford
dictionary then check the meaning of hate.
Aim higher in life, You wanna sit 3rd in class
cuz you were 5th huh? Alright, nuff said.

Sometimes you have to set a reality target for yoursef hence your target become a fantasy.
3rd is a reality target going by the reality on ground.

Now other countries are not sleeping-factor that
Our foreign earning is deprecating- factor that

They set target for 3rd-does not mean they cant be first- but b4 they become first, their economy has to overtake south Africa n Nigeria n Egypt.
Guy be real
Be very real

Ambode, a man with vision

We are expecting more in our educational sector

This is an example of a visionary leader

koladebrainiac:

Sometimes you have to set a reality target for yoursef hence your target become a fantasy.
3rd is a reality target going by the reality on ground.

Now other countries are not sleeping-factor that
Our foreign earning is deprecating- factor that

They set target for 3rd-does not mean they cant be first- but b4 they become first, their economy has to overtake south Africa n Nigeria n Egypt.
Guy be real
Be very real

Crazy indeed. how do you boost about an economy of a pagged currency? It can be big on papper but in reality, nothing will change the lives of people on the ground. Since Nigeria has declared itself as the biggest economy in Africa(with a pagged currency), have the lives of people improved, the answer is a big NO. Actually is has gotten worst.

Nigeria if it wants to develop its people and grow a middle class must leave their currency to float 100%, which in turn will bring more FDIs that wouod creat more jobs and grow the middle class, this thing of tampering with a currency just to remain at the top does not help the population at large.

Take example of SA, which float their currency 100%, it has a better economy and better infrastructure than Nigeria, why? because its competative globally, FDIs comes easily in that economy. Ambode must not fool nigerians, he must first consider the multiple exchange rate that are currently in nigeria, then he wouod realised his dream is just a pipe dream.

In real term, Nigeria as a whole could be no.3 or 4th biggest economy in Africa. Take a parallel market exchange rate which is at N490, which is a true reflection of the Naira. Divide nigeria naira GDP of N94trillion. How much do you get in dollar term? Dont you get $180bn economy. According to ambodi, lagos has 50% of nigeria's gdp. Even if its not exact, but the real Nigerian gdp is not far from that one, which is lesser than that of Egypt. But the government is busy fiddling with the numbers just to fool the citizens that we are no.1 while they are dying of hunger and still poor, if not worst.

Ambode focus on simple laws that would create discipline orderliness in the state. The state doesn't look organised.

Y not first?

Draei:

Third? why settle for less? Crap.!

at least he is realistic

jerrythafinisher:
In this recession? Coupled with the weak naira?? It a no no

Alright you tell us the right macroeconomic tools the LASG should employ.

I'm waiting

I wish you well

I believe in AMBODE. He can do better than that.

Itesiwaju eko lo je wa logun

Draei:

You don't get, aim for the best position and if
at all you don't make that target, you will find
yourself getting the 2nd or 3rd position which
wouldn't be a bad result cuz you never settled for less.

And when if e no come achieve the 1st position next year na you go still come here com insult the man and im government. Only a sensible man will set reasonable targets like Ambode has done.

Without education for all children?
Without tap water in the entire state?
Someone is just opening his big fat mouth to utter trash.
I thought trash was for LAWMA?