I think the concept of Tinapa was not meant to stand on its own. It has a second and third phase to cater for most of the questions that have been raised concerning infrastructure. Was it too ambitious, probably. Was it well conceived, moderately, yes. Duke got the carnival up and running before Tinapa and it does well during the carnival, patronage is high but this is just one month in twelve. However I do agree with those who feel industries that cater for Nigerians first should be the primer that ignites the fire of development. To this end remains the questions that surround this project and his administration in general. Whatever happens it was one heck of a try and I commend him for the sincere attempt. Pity most of his projects are not working now.

Like Fashola cannot lift the average Lagosian out of poverty so Donald could not take Cross-riverians shopping to Dubai. Governors simply cannot do macro-economics. Nigeria is poor so most of her citizens. No doubt infrastructure brings investment but like I've said before I'm not too sure in Nigeria's case if you repair all the roads, build airports everywhere, criss-cross the country with rail lines and provide round the clock power supply whether it will bring us out of poverty. It just probably won't.

It is only those in Abuja that can cause the basic change in living standards that will make a success of such projects but since they choose not to devolve power the likes of Duke, Fashola, Amaechi are basically wasting their time but earning good credits for it.

Alj harem and Ekoile's analyses were the best so far . . . Those guys made much sense . .in my opinion.

^^
Some folks here cannot stomach anything that would challenge Lagos. So to them, it is either in Lagos or it must die.
Sad indeed.

I'll be back with my own diagnosis/prognostications. 

The Tinapa project is a white Elephant project.The project was started by an ambitious governor Donald Duke thou with Good intentions trying to imitate Dubai. But whta he failed to realise is the Nigeria factors.

To understand Tinapa's failure, you have to understand that sustainable development is a factor of CAPITAL, both human and material.
Human activities sustain projects like Tinapa. But what human activities does the project target, and which of them are available within short timelines to enable the project continue a growth pattern? The project targets mainly "tourism".
However, can tourism happen in isolation of "disposable income"? NO. How many other venues are available GLOBALLY for tourism? I say LEGION.

I have to cut to the chase. Tinapa should be part of an Eastern Nigeria regional business development plan whereby all major cities in the East are deliberately linked with either rail or good roads. Luckily, Tinapa also has a business factor, namely shopping malls etc. But what would you sell there and how do you get it there? Tinapa is in Eastern Nigeria. Why not create a business nexus between Aba, Nnewi, Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Abakaliki and Tinapa whereby products from local industries are marketed there?

If the business side of Tinapa is properly consummated, the tourism part would take off naturally because there would then be disposable income for things like jazz clubs, casinos etc.

No foreigner would visit a place Nigerians are not visiting.
Africa is crazy about "Nollywood" today mainly because Nigerians consummated it first! If we never bought into Nollywood, it would never have crossed any of our borders.

Calabar is the no 1 tourist destination in Nigeri.But there's no way business tourism will work in calabar because is neither a commercial city or close to one. Tinapa would have made more sense if it were located in PH,Lagos, Abuja or even close to any of these cities.

Tinapa was doomed from inception. It was designed to fail. It was a typical Nigeria project where the concept was not thought through before rushing to implementation.

Tinapa was set up as a trade free zone. The full terms and condition can be found here
http://tinapa.com.ng/leisure/uploads/51c79402-1ff8-a23d.pdf
Part 4, General regulations is particularly interesting.
Based on the general regulation setting up Tinapa, it can be likened to a foreign country. It implies that while there is no restriction on a foreign company selling something that is on Nigeria's import prohibition list, a Nigerian living in Calabar cannot travel to Tinapa and buy such an item without it being impounded by Customs.

A friend working for a Dutch textile company with West African base in Ghana once told me of problems they encountered with Tinapa. She told me that there biggest customers prior to Obasanjo ban on Importation of textile were dealers coming from Nigeria. This Nigerians usually place massive orders including orders for customised african print. Obasanjos ban disrupted the Nigerian business and the company ran into serious trouble. One of the things the company considered was opening an outlet in Tinapa with the hope that they would be able to retain the Nigerian business through Tinapa since it is in Nigeria. However, they still could not sell to there customers through Tinapa because customs considered items originating from Tinapa into Nigeria as importation.

The question then arise about who the target market for Tinapa is. Is it
1. Nigerians living in Nigeria so that they actually go to Tinapa for shopping instead of places like Dubai?
2. Is it for foreigners so that they can travel into Tinapa for shopping and travel out again immediately after shopping?

If you want to target 1 above, you need fool  proof plan on how to convince the biggest brands the world to open outlets in Tinapa and also have fool proof plan on how to ensure that they make sales that will rival that of an equivalent outlet in places like Dubai. You need to convince Nigerians everywhere in Nigeria that it is actually worthwhile to go to Tinapa instead of places like Dubai. This is your typical chicken and egg situation. You need sellers to get buyers. You need buyers to get sellers. You also need efficient transport system from all places within Nigeria to Tinapa.

If you want to target 2 above, then you need to have an international airport within Tinapa otherwise the foreign visitors might have to pay Nigerian customs duty and other local rates when they leave Tinapa en-route to an International Airport in say Lagos, PH or Abuja. Paying local duty or rate will not be acceptable.

The project can still be salvaged. The objectives of the project need to be revisited and the project refocussed on more viable objectives and all vital enablers of the project put in place.

afam4eva:

Calabar is the no 1 tourist destination in Nigeri.But there's no way business tourism will work in calabar because is neither a commercial city or close to one. Tinapa would have made more sense if it were located in PH,Lagos, Abuja or even close to any of these cities.

perfect answer

Onlytruth:

^^
Some folks here cannot stomach anything that would challenge Lagos. So to them, it is either in Lagos or it must die.
Sad indeed.

I'll be back with my own diagnosis/prognostications. 

no brother, warri, abuja or port harcount would have been just fine

Onlytruth:

To understand Tinapa's failure, you have to understand that sustainable development is a factor of CAPITAL, both human and material.
Human activities sustain projects like Tinapa. But what human activities does the project target, and which of them are available within short timelines to enable the project continue a growth pattern? The project targets mainly "tourism".
However, can tourism happen in isolation of "disposable income"? NO. How many other venues are available GLOBALLY for tourism? I say LEGION.

I have to cut to the chase. Tinapa should be part of an Eastern Nigeria regional business development plan whereby all major cities in the East are deliberately linked with either rail or good roads. Luckily, Tinapa also has a business factor, namely shopping malls etc. But what would you sell there and how do you get it there? Tinapa is in Eastern Nigeria. Why not create a business nexus between Aba, Nnewi, Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Abakaliki and Tinapa whereby products from local industries are marketed there?

If the business side of Tinapa is properly consummated, the tourism part would take off naturally because there would then be disposable income for things like jazz clubs, casinos etc.

No foreigner would visit a place Nigerians are not visiting.
Africa is crazy about "Nollywood" today mainly because Nigerians consummated it first! If we never bought into Nollywood, it would never have crossed any of our borders.

hmmm, u making sense but i would like if u can explain further about the aba nnewi etc connection with tinapa and how it would bring about the uplift of tinapa

^^
I never bought into the "international free trade zone" idea.
How do you manage an international zone when you have not managed a local one?

Tinapa should be Nigerian first before international. I hate folks trying to fly before they can walk.

Yes, it should be part of an Eastern Nigeria regional business development plan. It should be linked with ALL major Eastern cities (especially the ones with industries). Folks come from many African countries to Nnewi and Aba.

Lagos is what it is today partly because it gets support from other western states in terms of human and business support.

Onlytruth:

^^
I never bought into the "international free trade zone" idea.
How do you manage an international zone when you have not managed a local one?

Tinapa should be Nigerian first before international. I hate folks trying to fly before they can walk.

Yes, it should be part of an Eastern Nigeria regional business development plan. It should be linked with ALL major Eastern cities (especially the ones with industries). Folks come from many African countries to Nnewi and Aba.

Lagos is what it is today partly because it gets support from other western states in terms of human and business support.

we know but how would ur suggestion of the connection of nnewi etc to tinapa be actualised

u made very good points and i would like to see how this would happen and also the positive effect it would have of tinapa

i support ur ideas but a bit more explaination

In effect, what I'm saying is that Tinapa should be an outlet for finished products from ALL industries in the East.
Folks who used to come from all over Africa to buy Aba made wears and Nnewi made products  know they can land in Calabar and get it from Tinapa, isn't that a good thing? Everybody wins.

Tinapa a wonderful idea by an illusionist & day dreamer in d name of Duke. The silly Governor was in too much hurry to hide his   Contoversial over inflated contract figures and loot from this 'phantom project' that he relinquished his post in a hurry forgetting to put  and empower a capable hand in place in CRS  who would push this ambitious project to d next level.

What we now have is a man who believes Nigeria would not have electricity in d next 50 years at d helms of affairs in d state, obviously with kind  of backgound and reputation coupled with his uninspiring & unguarded utterance no wonder Tinapa has gone to d dogs.

@alj harem,

The roads are even there already. What is needed is a regional understanding, which can be achieved with governors meeting and signing agreements.

Some folks blamed the "Nigerian factor" for Tinapa's failure. They are only correct to some extent.

Onlytruth:

In effect, what I'm saying is that Tinapa should be an outlet for finished products from ALL industries in the East.
Folks who used to come from all over Africa to buy Aba made wears and Nnewi made products  know they can land in Calabar and get it from Tinapa, isn't that a good thing. Everybody wins.

ok very good point

so in essence tinapa would be like a place where people would buy the finished products made from nnewi, aba etc

then as u rightly said, a good railway or transport system to connect these markets are important for it to function.

thanks brother

Onlytruth:

@alj harem,

The roads are even there already. What is needed is a regional understanding, which can be achieved with governors meeting and signing agreements.

Some folks blamed the "Nigerian factor" for Tinapa's failure. T[b]hey are only correct to some extent.
[/b]

that i do not agree with

Posted by: alj_harem

that i do not agree with

"Nigerian factor" is a very broad term. If they meant that the civil war politics and fears arising from our past is hindering such Eastern agreement, then yes. If they meant other things like power etc, then no.

If anyone wants to duplicate Lagos in the East, they must understand that Lagos is a Western state and enjoys all support from all western states.

Anything in the East without similar regional understanding will only stall.
If it does not stall, it will limp.

Onlytruth:

Posted by: alj_harem
"Nigerian factor" is a very broad term. If they meant that the civil war politics and fears arising from our past is hindering such Eastern agreement, then yes. If they meant other things like power etc, then no.

If anyone wants to duplicate Lagos in the East, they must understand that Lagos is a Western state and enjoys all support from all western states.

Anything in the East without similar regional understand will only stall.

nigerian factor can only be attributed to the fact that the location is not conducive for costumers and not that nigerians do not want to patronize tinapa. i don't think it has anything to do with the civil war stigma

@ the bolded point

good point as well, i would support if all this nnewi aba etc can go to onisha and form a stronger market there

but as u righly said, the governors or leaders have to look to it collectively which inculdes cross river leaders

there is not point is scattering investments everywhere when u can be an economic hub

Posted by: alj_harem

nigerian factor can only be attributed to the fact that the location is not conducive for costumers and not that nigerians do not want to patronize tinapa. i don't think it has anything to do with the civil war stigma

@ the bolded point

good point as well, i would support if all this nnewi aba etc can go to onisha and form a stronger market there

but as u righly said, the governors or leaders have to look to it collectively which inculdes cross river leaders

there is not point is scattering investments everywhere when u can be an economic hub

@First bolded,

I never meant that Nigerian don't want to patronize it because of the civil war. I mean that folks in Calabar may not have reached out to their eastern neighbors before designing this plan. That's all. You can read it anyway you want. Before the war, we did things together as one. That changed after the war. We should recreate that link.

@Second bolded,

Yes, but with understanding that every state should specialize in one thing or the other.
Tinapa is well positioned to be the outlet for international sales for regionally produced goods.

Onlytruth:

Posted by: alj_harem
@First bolded,

I never meant that Nigerian don't want to patronize it because of the civil war. I mean that folks in Calabar may not have reached out to their eastern neighbors before designing this plan. That's all. You can read it anyway you want. Before the war, we did things together as one. That changed after the war. We should recreate that link.

yes i support links between cross river and south east

i think the cross river people and indeed the majority of the people in cross river,akwa ibom, should come together and develop a plan for the SE

all this " he is ibiobio, he is igbo , he is ijaw, efik" has to end for progress

if everyone is thinking like that then tinapa and indeed other projects will not work

i support this bond between SE and Cross river for tinapa and other projects to reach there full potential

and yes, that railway and transportation system is also very important for it to work be it tinapa or the bond

I'm appalled, shocked and disappointed as to how Tinapa is turning out.
Didn't KPMG forsee all this Customs' brohaha. Were the Customs' guys carried along, anyway?

Even as it is, there doesnt seem to be any clear-cut damage control strategy.
Imoke is sounding passive, uninspiring and clueless about his next steps.
Has he been consulting with the Private Sector for the past 4 years with nothing to show?
Even the Tinapa CEO doesn't look exactly convincing. Going by his name, sounds like he got the job on some "State Character" thingy.

If there is a will, there is a way. If these guys really have a vision, and lobby well, they'd make sense of this thing.

I think Imoke should even appoint Duke as the head of Tinapa. This was his dream. Maybe he can make it work.
He seems to be a smart and charismatic guy. He could run with this project and take it to another level.

I don't entirely agree with someone's argument about Calabar not having enough spending power.
The Nigerian market is huge. If properly managed, that place could be our own Vegas. We've got a large population in the
20-50 range, who have quite some spending power.

Nigerians like to spend on entertainment and fashion. Hundreds of Nigerians visit Ghana, ZA and London frequently.
They could visit Calabar and have a blast for a fraction of that. We simply do not have any hot destination ni Nigeria.

Recently, I was planning my honeymoon, and nowhere in Nigeria stood out as an exciting destination.

Besides, that place doesnt look like it even cost $250m, talkless of $450m.

Like most things in Nigeria, no body knows how we shall make Tinapa survive.

Onlytruth:

^^
Some folks here cannot stomach anything that would challenge Lagos. So to them, it is either in Lagos or it must die.
Sad indeed.

I'll be back with my own diagnosis/prognostications. 

Not at all. Facts are facts. Such a project should have been done in Lagos or Abuja, maybe Port harcourt or Delta(my very own state). That's about it. Why?? These locations are UNIQUE. They have the diversity and the "ready made" environment for such a project to germinate and grow. I know you know what I mean by this.

afam4eva:

Calabar is the no 1 tourist destination in Nigeri.But there's no way business tourism will work in calabar because is neither a commercial city or close to one. Tinapa would have made more sense if it were located in PH,Lagos, Abuja or even close to any of these cities.

That is the gospel truth!

Onlytruth:

To understand Tinapa's failure, you have to understand that sustainable development is a factor of CAPITAL, both human and material.
Human activities sustain projects like Tinapa. But what human activities does the project target, and which of them are available within short timelines to enable the project continue a growth pattern? The project targets mainly "tourism".
However, can tourism happen in isolation of "disposable income"? NO. How many other venues are available GLOBALLY for tourism? I say LEGION.

I have to cut to the chase. Tinapa should be part of an Eastern Nigeria regional business development plan whereby all major cities in the East are deliberately linked with either rail or good roads. Luckily, Tinapa also has a business factor, namely shopping malls etc. But what would you sell there and how do you get it there? Tinapa is in Eastern Nigeria. Why not create a business nexus between Aba, Nnewi, Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Abakaliki and Tinapa whereby products from local industries are marketed there?

If the business side of Tinapa is properly consummated, the tourism part would take off naturally because there would then be disposable income for things like jazz clubs, casinos etc.

No foreigner would visit a place Nigerians are not visiting.
Africa is crazy about "Nollywood" today mainly because Nigerians consummated it first! If we never bought into Nollywood, it would never have crossed any of our borders.  

Guy, linking it "Eastern Nigeria" is just to feed your tribalistic nature or should I say "natural bias". It has nothing about East or West or North or Whatever. It is simply because of the location. How many rich kids will want to go to Calabar to buy a wristwatch when most stay in Lagos, Abuja, PH and Delta?? They will rather take a stroll to Silver bird and buy their wristwatch or further still, travel out to buy.

If this Tinapa was done in Kwara or Jigawa. You will still have the same result. It was the location, in my opinion.

alj_harem:

yes i support links between cross river and south east

i think the cross river people and indeed the majority of the people in cross river,akwa ibom, should come together and develop a plan for the SE

all this " he is ibiobio, he is igbo , he is ijaw, efik" has to end for progress

if everyone is thinking like that then tinapa and indeed other projects will not work

i support this bond between SE and Cross river for tinapa and other projects to reach there full potential

and yes, that railway and transportation system is also very important for it to work be it tinapa or the bond

with all the regional confusion,i dont see CR state in any partnership with the south east,they seem more alligned with the SS,the new one is now BRACED.when in real sence,they share more cultures,and are very close to SE,
personally i think,interfacing and networking aba,nnewi,onitsha would do the magic,but then infrastructures-that road,kai.

joecrack:

with all the regional confusion,i dont see CR state in any partnership with the south east,they seem more alligned with the SS,the new one is now BRACED.when in real sence,they share more cultures,and are very close to SE,
personally i think,interfacing and networking aba,nnewi,onitsha would do the magic,but then infrastructures-that road,kai.

yes it would do the magic but really if they think they can do it on by themselves then they are seriously mistaking

all MAJOR tourist place in nigeria and to some extent the world are now multi ethnic for it to work

the idea was to change make CR a tourist place and thus attract people and become a mini economic hub just like port harcount or warri but they forgot that they need people from all works of life to make it happen

alj_harem:

yes it would do the magic but really if they think they can do it on by themselves then they are seriously mistaking

all MAJOR tourist place in nigeria and to some extent the world are now multi ethnic for it to work

the idea was to change make CR a tourist place and thus attract people and become a mini economic hub just like port harcount or warri but they forgot that they need people from all works of life to make it happen

@ highlighted

That is a VERY SOLID POINT!!!
That was why I mentioned Lagos, Delta, PH or Abuja as the ideal locations for such a project to work.

a country without dreamers would perish, a nation without dreamers would perish, a city without dreamers would perish so would a family without dreamers perishing. Once d dreamer has left d stage, Tinapa  was bound to crumble like a pack of cards. The  cream of this project has been succoured by d dreamer and any other interloper associating himself / herself with this project would have to live and contend himself/herself with d crumbs left, I don't think they have born that Governor yet who would be contented with d crumbs of his predecessor, hence why so many Governors are screaming blue-murder over d minimum wage because implementing that wage structure would eat deep into their projected largesse.

Posted by: jason123

[b]Guy, linking it "Eastern Nigeria" is just to feed your tribalistic nature or should I say "natural bias". It has nothing about East or West or North or Whatever. It is simply because of the location. How many rich kids will want to go to Calabar to buy a wristwatch when most stay in Lagos, Abuja, PH and Delta?? [/b]They will rather take a stroll to Silver bird and buy their wristwatch or further still, travel out to buy.

[b]If this Tinapa was done in Kwara or Jigawa. [/b]You will still have the same result. It was the location, in my opinion.

@First bolded,

So, you accuse me of tribalism when you from the same so called SS want all development to head to Lagos, Delta and PH.
So what happens to Calabar and Tinapa? To them tough luck?
And you wonder why no one with sense believe the SS nonsense.
What is good for Lagos and Delta, is certainly good for Calabar.

@Second bolded,

So you now compare C/River with Jigawa and Kwara?
SMH!  

I hope C/river folks are reading.

i dont see why it cant be marketed and packaged for foreign visitors or immigrants.

isnt that what ghana and china are doing for select areas in their countries?

tpia@:

i dont see why it cant be marketed and packaged for foreign visitors or immigrants.

isnt that what ghana and china are doing for select areas in their countries?

it can't because no one would invest in a project that does not have the right equipment for it to generate money

Onlytruth:


So you now compare C/River with Jigawa and Kwara?
SMH!  

I hope C/river folks are reading.

onlytruth brother, what is wrong in comparing cross river with jigawa and kwara

is cross river better than those states

where are u getting at

Onlytruth why do u want Tinapa to start selling those dirty spare parts sold in Nnewi and okrika clothes sold in Aba. Don't u know Tinapa is meant to be posh, na wa oh