CSTR2:
The SW is heavily dependent on foreign investments due to the low entrepreneural drive of the locals.
No foreign investment or any future transfer of foreign investments from there means very few jobs.
No wonder the rest of the SW states except lagos and ogun to an extent are like almajiris states due to low economic activities as a result of low foreign investments.
The SE on the other hand is driven majorly by the indigenous investments.
A more palatable ecomomic situation in the long run.

OkutaNla:


To the South East haters, when was the last time your entire region attracted a big enough investment that can potentially generate up to 10,000 jobs? Some of your leaders are even whinning that Dangote has refused to invest in your region, can one blame him? ? Even your 'billionaires' would rather invest in the SW Food for thought.

CSTR2:
The same foreign investment that has turned the SW to a beggar region.
Which part of the world has eradicated poverty and underdevelopment with foreign investments?
You don't know what you are talking about.

CSTR2:
The same foreign investment that has turned the SW to a beggar region.
Which part of the world has eradicated poverty and underdevelopment with foreign investments?
You don't know what you are talking about.

OkutaNla:


Chai! You are shameless!!! You don shift goal post to SW depending on FDI. Hello?? Even U.S depends on FDI!! They go all over seeking investors in the U.S economy -- Asians are some of the highest investors in the U.S economy. FACT! That Foreigners find you attractive enough to invest in you speaks volumes about you as country/region. The SE indigenous investments are practically worthless in comparison to FDI. FACT>

Industrial hub: Why more companies are moving to Ogun

IT began as an innocent question but soon degenerated into a heated argument. And what is this question, one might? Between Lagos and Ogun, which has more industries? The Lagos fans would not imagine any state in the country taking the lead in terms of commerce and industrialisation. They were ready to put their last kobo on the line.

They readily cited the ports and some industries around the Ogba and Ikeja axis. But after a thorough analysis, it was generally agreed that Ogun State is now the industrial hub of the nation. The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun attested to this recently during the administration’s second anniversary.

Senator Amosun would tell anyone who cares to listen that Ogun has the largest number of industries and that the state is now a preferred choice destination for investment. And this boast is not hot air. An accountant of repute with many years of experience, Gov. Amosun has been able to muscle industries in the state which hitherto paid taxes and levies to the Lagos State to put their money where their mouth is. And he has succeeded in this regard such that from a base of an Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, of N730m as at May 2011 every month, it rose to N3.8b in May 2013 and is still counting.

Thus, according to the Governor,”today, Ogun State is not only open for business, it is business”.

For him, the economic gains are there for all to see. With 123 companies showing readiness to locate their manufacturing outfits in the state and 32 of this figure already on ground at different levels of operation, while 27 have fully commenced operations, Ogun no doubt is gradually becoming the hottest ‘industrial hub’ in town. Perhaps, it is against this backdrop that the State government says its Bureau of Lands and Survey is being restructured to make it more efficient with transparent and accountable operations.

Accountable operations
Amosun said the state government is about completing the implementation of the Geographic Information System, GIS, with full automation land administration. This, he said, would pave way for the mapping of the entire State, facilitating easier access to land for local and foreign investors.
In addition to this, the state government is equally pursuing with vigour infrastructural development such that it can presently be described as a huge construction site.

Besides the six-lane Ita-Eko-Sokori-Totoro road and Grade separation (Flyover) bridge at Ibara roundabout which is the first of its kind in the state, there is also another flyover at the Lagos Garage along Folagbade Street and Mobalufon junction along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.
Another such work in this axis is the Sagamu/Benin Express junction-Oba Erinwole junction project. There are also on-going projects on the Ilishan/ago-Iwoye road, Ilara/Ijoun/Egua/Oja Odan/Ilase road, the Mobalufon-Ejinrin road, the Lafenwa-Ayetoro, Ofada/Mowe/Ibafo road, amongst others.

According to a state government official, over 400km of rural roads have been opened up in the 20 local government areas in the state. In addition to infrastructural development, an area that the State government has continued to expend energy on is security. According to the Governor, despite the fact that the security agencies belong to the Federal Government, “we have continued to expend funds and other resources in order to ensure security of lives and properties of our people.”

As proof of this effort, residents of Sagamu trooped out in their hundreds recently when the State government commissioned some state-of-the-art armoured personnel carriers, APCs, during the second anniversary celebration of the administration. According to a resident in the area where the commissioning took place, that was the third in the series of APCs delivered to the area.
Said he: “We’re really grateful to the Governor for the effort he has put in to ensure our safety here. In fact, this is the third attempt of bringing this APC here. The first two were damaged before they were used because someone poured diesel where he’s supposed to put oil. I believe it was sabotage.” Continuing he said, prior to the provision of the APC, robbers were always on the rampage, terrorising banks and residents.
Securing lives and property

“So bad was the situation that the banks shut their doors to the public. Imagine the loss of revenue, both to the banks and State. So, we’re very glad that the Governor had gone to great length to secure lives and properties in this area,” explained this resident who simply describedhimself Ayodeji. All together, a total of 13 APCs, 200 security patrol vans fitted with security and communication gadgets and other security implements have been provided.

Besides the economy, Governor Amosun can also be said to be winning in the education sector. The construction of 18 model schools across the state is a testimony of this feat. The schools which are located in Ilaro, Onijanganjangan, Itele, Ado-Odo, Yemoji, Idi-Aba, Ofo, amongst were jump-started to take care of over 22,000 students who would have began roaming the streets as a result of the hand over of mission schools.
Indeed, it was a sight to behold as school children lined the street leading to one of these school projects in Sagamu. They waved the national flag as the Governor’s convoy drove past. The scene was reminiscent of colonial Nigeria and this reporter did not hestiate to make this observation when the opportunity presented itself. As the Governor walked round the project site, this reporter spotted a gentleman whom she assumed was one of the teachers in the area. Her assumption was right.

Why were children made to line up in the heat of the sun waiting for the Governor. He gave a secretive smile, took a deep breath and said it’s a double-edge reason. What do you mean? this reporter asked.

“ Well,” he began by way of an explanation, “first, it’s a good opportunity for the children to see their governor and by waving at him, it is their own way of appreciating him for the good work he’s doing. In a way too, the children are encouraged to aspire because amongst them, some might want to take up public office in future,” he said as though delivering a lecture and he was not yet done.

Continuing, he said: “Even the adults you see were not coerced to be here. They came on their on own. I guess it’s a demonstration that they love what the state government is doing and this is their own way of saying thank you.” One wasn’t so convinced with this explanation.
Why for crying out loud would an entire village turn up for a mere project inspection exercise. The conclusion this reporter came to was this must be a political rally of some sort. The Governor was probably testing the waters for 2015. That certainly explained the huge crowd at every school project site. My friend (he refused to disclose his identity) shook his head in disagrement.

Annual allocation to education
“This government has done so well for us in terms of education and the people are happy. It’s not a political rally. This is just their way of telling the government we appreciate what you’re doing and like you to do more. You understand why I said the reasons for been here are two fold, he said and disappeared into the crowd.

Indeed, the government is holding its own in this sector also. What with its free education in all public primary and secondary schools. Official statistics put the annual allocation to education at between 22 and 25 percent in line with UNESCO’s recommendation.
What this means is an increase in school enrolment in government owned schools. Added to this is the rise in performance at external exams. For the state government, this positive yield leads to one direction- that Ogun youths would be eligible for tertiary education. And for Governor Amosun, with this development, a solid foundation for the production of high calibre manpower needed for the socio-economic development and industrialisation of the state is in sight.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/why-more-companies-are-moving-to-ogun/

Dollyak:

1 China- (USA and Japanese investment)

OkutaNla:


Chai! You are shameless!!! You don shift goal post to SW depending on FDI. Hello?? Even U.S depends on FDI!! They go all over seeking investors in the U.S economy -- Asians are some of the highest investors in the U.S economy. FACT! That Foreigners find you attractive enough to invest in you speaks volumes about you as country/region. The SE indigenous investments are practically worthless in comparison to FDI -- go and ask Obiano of Anambra is working tirelessly to attract FDI into his state in spite of all their 'indigenous investments'. FACT>

CSTR2:
FDI is a bonus, you idiott.
Most major economies like the US, CHINA, JAPAN are driven by indigenous investments.
Infact, countries like china makes it as a matter of policy to indigenise foreign investments as much as possible.
Foreign investments are fickle.
A little instability and they will disappear.
The strength of the indigenous industries determine the strength of an economy.

Dollyak:

1 China- (USA and Japanese investment). Seriously, you are embarrassing yourselves. The aim of most countries is to attract foreign investors into their country as well as empower their own. USA and Britain negotiate for foreign investment all the time.

InyinyaAgbaOku:


It still doesn't negate the fact that the more the indigenous content, the better the spread of wealth. That's why SE has many rich people even if the richest Nigerian is from SE

CSTR2:
If Nigeria wants to truely develop then she must not put too much emphasis on foreign investments.
Not too long ago, foreign companies were moving enmass from Nigeria to ghana due to a little instability in the system.
Develop the local industrial capacity as soon as possible.

OkutaNla:


"Richest Nigerians"? ? LOL. There you go again with your lies. Richest Nigerians according to Forbes or what? You people just throw around figures, bandy around stewpid and rubbish talk. The SW has the largest number of rich folks on Forbes. FACT.

OkutaNla:


You are a bleeping dolt. Yes I said it! America is the most indebted Nation in the WORLD!!! And the largest economy as well. How do you think they racked up that much debt? ? More than half of that debt is owed to Japan and China. And those countries have bought up and invested more in America than all the Europeans combined. Don't talk about what you know nothing about just to look bright. Look, let's not derail this thread with this ignorant and stupid line of argument of yours. Open a separate thread and we'll thrash it out with facts and figures that will make you look stupid.

InyinyaAgbaOku:

I mean even if the richest Nigerians are not from SE. Yes SE has a larger proportion of rich people

BuddahMonk:


Oshogbo Toad, big economy does not translate to high standard of living.
Nigeria economy is bigger than those of UAE, Qatar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Kuwait etc but how are the citizens faring.

The number of beggars in Ibadan alone exceed the number of beggars in the entire Eastern Region combine.

CSTR2:
You must be a slowpoke.
How does all these jargon you wrote change the fact that the greatest economy in the world-the US owes its strength to its indigenous industrialists and visionaries.
The US is blessed with the highest number of indigenous industrialists.

InyinyaAgbaOku:

[b]USA and Britain [/b]still have significant indigenous investments, same can't be said for your area of reference

CSTR2:
The SE will be better off in the long run especially in this economically and politically unstable Nigeria.
They should just make sure criticial sectors of the eastern economy are in the hands of locals.

Dollyak:

Says who? Anyways, a foreign investment will inject more cash into the economy, while empowering the youth in the long run. India adopted similar strategy and they are now doing fine.

CSTR2:
India has probably the most entrepreneural citizens in the whole of asia.
They are rabid industrialists.
If you think foreign investments is what made india it is today, then you are mistaken.
Most of the foreign investment they even had was in the ICT sector due to the highly developed local capacity of the indian ICT expert at low cost.
The same can't be said for the SW.

OkutaNla:


To the South East haters, when was the last time your entire region attracted a big enough investment that can potentially generate up to 10,000 jobs? Some of your leaders are even whinning that Dangote has refused to invest in your region, can one blame him? ? Even your 'billionaires' would rather invest in the SW Food for thought.

meccuno:
I stand to be corrected.....the SE has more entrepreneurs than the SW counter part.......attracting foreign investment is good,but have a middle class population and a large micro economy boost the economy......using quotes for the word billionaires actually makes me feel if you know who a billionaire is......innoson for one is a billionaire.....and he is based in Nnewi and enugu......stop having this false impression that one has to come to lagos before he makes it......