By Gabriel Olawale


LAGOS—Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, highlighted some of the reasons why all Nigerian leaders after his administration
were unable to increase power generation from where he left
it 10 years ago.
Olusegun Obasanjo
He also said Lagos would
become Africa’s third largest economy before in his lifetime, noting that the state government was already making it an economic hub.
.
Speaking in Lagos at the
launch of a book, “Making
Africa Work,” which he co-authored with Director of Brenthurst Foundation, Dr. Greg Mills; President of
NEWSEUM, Dr. Jeffrey Herbst and Major General Dickie Davis (retd), Obasanjo said lack of
good leadership, continuity in governance and financial constraints were responsible
for the diminishing status of power generation in the country.


Obasanjo explained that his administration came up with an agenda called ‘NEEDS,’ which is National Economic Empowerment Strategy, to deal with power and other problems confronting the
nation. He said: “The idea is that we would have something that will
lead us in every aspect of
governance and we make
federal, states and local
governments buy into it.
“When we were planning it, we went round the country, sample people’s opinion and consult traditional leaders.



The incoming administration after
us was not left out in it and during my administration, we
implemented the first phase of NEEDS and it was supposed to be continuous.
“But to my surprise, the
administration that succeeded our tenure, which campaigned
on the basis of continuity,
failed us. “When they assumed office, the first statement they made
on energy was that in four years, they will generate 30,000 megawatts of electricity.



At that time, the
highest we generated was 4,000 megawatts.
“I was shocked, wondering how they will do it in four
years. I quickly sent someone
to educate him (then
President) because, as at that
time, we were in the process
of generating 10,000
megawatts.



“It is regrettable that the
administration that succeeded
us did not even generate up to
3,750 megawatts that we were
able to generate before we left.
“It even came down to 1,500
and the one we have in the
pipeline, they stopped it. That
was about 10 years ago and
up till today, our power
generation has not gone
beyond where I left it 10 years
ago.”



Obasanjo regretted that even
when power had been
privatised, there was still no
money to improve it, saying:
“As far as funding is
concerned, there is funding
out there but it can only come
when environment is
conducive.
Improved contributory pension
to facilitate devt
Obasanjo explained how
government could use
contributing pension to
facilitate development in the
country, lamenting the fact that
some people didn’t get their
pension till they died.


He said; “I formed a committee
and sent them to different
parts of the world to gather
experience. They came back
and we enacted a law that
there should be contributory
pension.
‘’The public service didn’t want
it because they didn’t want to
make contributions but we
were able to achieve 10 per
cent compliance.
“Ten percent of Nigeria
workers were captured in the
contributing scheme and in a
space of 12 years, that fund
yielded up to $40,000, only 10
percent, one can imagine if 50
percent of our working
population is captured.
“This is the kind of money that
can be used for development.



The same kind of money was
used in Singapore to give
everybody housing.”
He, however, said that the
newly launched book detailed
practical steps of how to make
Africa work.
He said: “Africa is not poor, but
poorly managed because if we
decide to manage it properly,
we would get out of the
situation we find ourselves.
“I don’t talk about poverty in
Africa because the
international community is
tired of hearing poverty. So our
narration has to change. We
need to talk about job creation
and wealth generation.”


Lagos’ll become Africa’s 3rd
largest economy
Obasanjo also said Lagos
would be Africa’s third largest
economy before he dies,
adding that the necessary
structures were already being
put in place to achieve that.


“Even though people said I
look like someone who is in
the departure lounge, Lagos
will become the third largest
economy before I take my
boarding pass,” he said.



www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/die-lagos-must-become-third-largest-economy-africa-obasanjo/



Cc: Lalasticlala , myndd44 , seun

Okay

So he knws wen he will die already.

This thief knows when he will die? After eating amala and eforiro in the morning, you just come and talk thrash?

Human being is talking, baboon is talking too,

Okay.

Thats next year shey? This one will just wake up, eat amala and eforiro and think of a lie to throw and then throw it. We are waiting to see if you will carry all the monies you stole to the grave. Agbaya.