Countries and regions that have less oil and natural resources are always more development and more sustainable than ones with oil. A closer look at countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and many others will be examples hen you place the side by side with Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and many others. The disparity in development differs. Though, there are few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions like Dubai, Russia and Qatar but most oil producing countries suffer from a malaise known as "Dutch Disease" .

Anambra state is a region that has no oil or little oil compared to a step like Delta, or Edo. Lets look at Anambra state and see why it is more sustainable than most oil producing states.

There are three major cities that drive the economic prosperity of Anambra state; Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka.
Nnewi is the industrial city of Anambra State. Nnewi is home to several indigenous industrial manufacturing companies. Nigeria’s first car manufacturing plant is located at Nnewi. Nigeria’s auto part manufacturing factories are located at Nnewi, the first Nigerian made motorcycle was and is still been produced at Nnewi. There are several number of indigenous industrial products been produced at Nnewi.

Technically, Nnewi is referred to as the ‘Japan of Africa’. One fascinating thing about Nnewi is that most (if not all) of the industrial estates and manufacturing factories located there were built by indigenous efforts and by Nneawi people. Ibeto Group of Companies, Cutix and ADswitch, Uru Industries Ltd, Omata Holdings Ltd, Cento Group of Companies, Coscharis of Companies Group, Innoson Group of Companies, Ebunso Nig. Ltd, John White Industries, Ejiamatu Group of Companies, Chicason Group, Louis Carter Group, etc are all manufacturing companies established by Nnewi people at Nnewi. These indigenous industrialists simply transformed Nnewi into what it has become. Nnewi alone accounts for over 70% of the auto parts manufacturing business in Nigeria. Nnewi has a private sector driven economy.



The indigenous industrial efforts at Nnewi means thousands of jobs for residents and millions in revenue for the state government.


Onitsha is the commercial city of Anambra State, it is gradually also becoming an industrial city too. A number of new manufacturing companies have recently sprang up within the city, making it not only a trade center but also a production center. The Onitsha main market is one of West Africa’s biggest markets and provides opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs and revenue for the state government. Onitsha is a private sector driven economy.
Awka is the state capital of Anambra state. As expected, it is a city mostly funded by state government activities. Awka hosts the government structures, universities, and a pocket of small commercial activities.


Anambra state govt seem to have an efficient civil service that has helped it survive through this period of low federal allocations. Anambra internally generates between N2-3billion Naira monthly. After Ogun State, Anambra recorded the highest improvement in IGR within the past two years.



Anambra has an impressive road network system that makes almost all of its rural communities connected by road. The same applies to electricity distribution. The state also has an impressive system of funding and managing of its basic schools. Secondary school education is subsidized, students pay between N2- 4,000 per term. Public basic education is therefore not free like it is in the Delta. This is a sustainable approach.



Every public secondary school has a made-in-Anambra-Innoson school bus. The waste disposal trucks in the state are made-in-Anambra- Innoson trucks. Some local security vehicles are made-in-Anambra-Innoson vehicles.
Anambra has a ‘community police’ system which it calls ‘vigilante’. This security system is decentralized in such a way that every community has its own team of indigenous security men, managing the security of the community. They are armed and have patrol vans. The vigilante system is more effective than the Nigerian Police system. These security officers are not paid by the communities but by the state government. These set of security officers are more visible than the Nigerian Police officers.



In the government school where I worked, we have a brand new sound proof generator which Peter Obi delivered to the school years back. I am sure the school has never used that generator since it was delivered. We also have two other generators, we only use one of them. The school has also replaced its black boards with white boards and have therefore replaced chalks with markers. The school is a beneficiary of an NCC initiative and therefore has internet access, tens of laptops and desktop computers which it uses to teach its students. Our library has good books and the overall management of the school is commendable. Supervisors show up from state ministry once in a while to assess teachers performance. Its a state owned school.



The youth corpers who passed out of service last month in Anambra state received between 80-140k backlog payment for their service to the state. Surprisingly, while oil rich states like Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have either slashed state youth corpers allowances by half or even stopped payment, Anambra state early this year increased corpers allowances and paid them all sometime last month before their passing out.



Anambra has an impressive number of indigenous billionaires who are driving their local economy. It is rumored that Anambra state alone has the highest number of billionaires in Nigeria as at today. I do not mean resident billionaires, I mean billionaires by state of origin. You can research this yourself.



On agriculture; there is a group of people called Anam in Anambra state. These people are driving the agricultural revolution in the state. They are as hardworking as the Hausa/Fulani manual workers. Those who know the Hausa/Fulani manual workers in the South will attest to their productive ability to deliver on difficult projects at cheap rates. And they provide cheap labor. In Bayelsa for example, the local Ijaw unskilled workers are complaining about how the Hausa/Fulani manual workers are taking over their manual jobs. These set of people can deliver on any kind of labor work and their prices are unbelievable. Anambra has these kind of people too and they are from the Anam area. The Anam people of Anambra state are predominantly farmers. In terms of agriculture, they are as productive as Northern Nigeria. Farming is their religion and their location along the Niger River gives them an edge over other farming groups in the state. They grow yam, tomato, plantain, rice, cassava, melon, potatoe, and many others. It is rumored that Anambra is now getting close to been self-sufficient in tomato production; thanks to the Anam people. I also hear that Anambra now exports vegetable.


One interesting thing I like about Anambra people is their hustling spirit and the drive to develop their hometowns even without government support. You will be amazed at what individuals and diaspora town unions are doing to develop their communities in Anambra state. A man named Ichue Mike Ezenduka built a 4.2 kilometer road for his community from his personal pocket. Another man named Dr. Godwin Maduka is building a 15 storey specialist Orthopaedic hospital in his hometown, this is outside the number of other projects he has constructed there. An Anambra business man named Authur Eze pays every youth corper serving in his hometown an additional ten thousand Naira monthly from his personal pocket. There are several other interesting efforts by Anambra people that I do not want to mention here. The point is, the rich people of Anambra consider themselves as part of govt and also take social responsibilities, especially as it affects their immediate hometowns.


Anambra state is a sustainable state because, just like Lagos, the economy is not funded by politics of allocation alone which boils down to the civil service. The industrial and commercial activities are what drives the economy and even the politics.


In oil states like Delta and Bayelsa, the bulk of the economy is funded by politics. Asaba for example is a city sustained by government patronage. Yenegoa depends heavily on federal allocations. If civil servants are not paid, the economy (down to the market women) becomes grounded as it has recently become. After churches, the next biggest industry in Yenegoa is hotel.


These hotels are patronized by mostly oil contractors and govt officials, with the grounding of the oil sector which by extension also grounds the govt, the hotel industry has nearly collapsed due to low patronage. In the past, due to free oil money, the govt of Bayelsa employed 'everybody' to work in its civil service as a way of empowerment and wealth creation. Today, the action is no longer sustainable and the decision is difficult to reverse. Today, the civil servants cannot be paid nor sacked. The state is almost grounded. Despite the free oil money that has accrued to the Niger Delta states over the years, the region still suffers from been seen as a sustainable region. Its civil service is fraudulently bogus, its development contracts are ridiculously inflated, its businessmen are administrative based, they rise with an administration and fall when the administration leaves office. Their sources of wealth cannot be sustained because it is based on govt patronage. Akwa Ibom has fantastic public infrastructures but there are no serious internal economic activities to sustain the system. Port Harcourt city of Rivers State is gradually feeling the heat of the oil sector crisis. Port Harcourt industrial economy is oil servicing based. The other economy is funded by politics. With the oil sector in crisis, Port Harcourt is becoming a stagnant city in terms of economic prosperity. IOCs are unable to pay contractors. Contractors are forced to lay off staff to remain afloat. The Onne Port which would have created an alternative economic prosperity for the state is greatly and wrongly tied to the oil & gas sector and is badly affected by federal politics.


While Anambra state is producing and selling indigenous products to the rest of Nigeria and earning exchange to sustain its people and state, most Niger Delta states are still at the level of consumption. This is the big difference.
Recently, a development commission in the Niger Delta needed a client to purchase some plastic products worth over two hundred million Naira. I was directed to find a manufacturer that meets the specification. I could not find any in Port Harcourt or any other Niger Delta state. I ended up recommending Innoson factory at Enugu and another at Lagos. The deal has already been struck. Enugu and Lagos will be patronized for the contract. This is what we are talking about. Enugu, Anambra and Lagos have products to offer Nigeria just like the North is offering in agriculture. What are the Niger Delta states offering the rest of Nigeria to earn more money for its govt?


The future of Nigeria lies not even in agriculture but in manufacturing. This is why I am impressed at what indigenous people are doing at Nnewi and Lagos.
The Niger Delta might have lost its golden opportunity just like other regions of the country due to the resource curse syndrome which comes with free oil money. Anambra is successful because indigenous Anambra people have a natural inclination to succeed by whatever means necessary. A lot still has to be done by the state govt though.


Anambra could have been better if the federal politics was right. Anambra could have been better if the constitution made room for community based govt which they already do practice in some sense. I have seen community unions donate transformers, build public schools, manage hospitals and do many more things in that igbo land. It all shows that there is a sense of responsibility towards home. With a community based govt system in a place like Anambra, development will reach the grassroot. I see a place like Anambra becoming an ideal destination for economic opportunities.
I hope the Niger Delta people will learn a thing or two from the Anambra people soon. Its time to think home in a sustainable manner.


It is time for state govts to pick up the list of imported products into Nigeria and say to themselves, what and what on this list can we replace between now and three years time from our states? What is our comparative advantage?


The Igbos are already trying to overcome the Forex crisis by expanding their local manufacturing base by finding local substitutes. The Igbos are both traders and industrialists. They don't only sell, they also produce. Onitsha and Nnewi is a perfect example of this illustration and Anambra state is simply reaping the benefits from its peoples effort. Everyday you see trucks moving finished goods from Anambra to other parts of Nigeria just like it is done from Lagos state. You hardly see same from most Niger Delta states.


The unitary system that we practice has hampered competition among states for too long. It is becoming clearer now that there will likely be no more free oil money soon. Those like Anambra who have laid the foundation for industrial revolution have nothing to fear. The industrial companies will provide the taxes through which the govt will survive. That is how it should be.
I feel worried for Bayelsa state. I worry for Delta state too. And I pray that the oil sector collapse as soon as possible. That might be the only opportunity for us to start thinking. Not just here in the Delta but in the whole of Nigeria.



https://etimesafrica./2017/01/06/anambra-state-lessons-that-niger-delta-states-must-learn/#more-3691

Op oil is not the problem of niger delta. Rather greedy selfish and useless leaders. If oil was d problem then akwa ibom would not have been developed as it is. Bayelsa is one of the worst states in Nigeria. The governor seriake Dickson is completely useless!

Good

The South East needs a functioning international airport, seaport, standard railway system and constant power supply. . Boom! Ladies and gentlemen, give them 5years and watch the redemption of Nigeria.

blackpanda:
Op oil is not the problem of niger delta. Rather greedy selfish and useless leaders. If oil was d problem then akwa ibom would not have been developed as it is. Bayelsa is one of the worst states in Nigeria. The governor seriake Dickson is completely useless!

For the first time, I Agree With You.



Point Of Correction: Dickson Is Not Just Useless, He Is Also A tOtO

coolzeal:
The South East needs a functioning international airport, seaport, standard railway system and constant power supply. . Boom! Ladies and gentlemen, give them 5years and watch the redemption of Nigeria.

But the ogas on top will never allow that to happen.

It really is a no brainer

Just cut the long story short... See roads in small Asaba and compare with big anambra. So residents of DLA asaba and Bonsak will have to suffer in the coming rainy season all over again? A landlord in DLA asaba and his tenants all became co-tenants at infant jesus when they all parked out of the landlords own house due to rainwater as a result of bad road. His house is empty as we comment. Delta and poor governance are like Jacob zuma's two fingers.

coolzeal:
The South East needs a functioning international airport, seaport, standard railway system and constant power supply. . Boom! Ladies and gentlemen, give them 5years and watch the redemption of Nigeria.

Nigeria can't do that brother because its a threat to Lagos, if you think what the Oga ^^^^^^^ said is a lie, just make Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu a standard international airport, give Anambra a seaport and watch Lagos decongest within a short period of time..

BeeBeeOoh:
Nigeria can't do that brother because its a threat to Lagos, if you think what the Oga ^^^^^^^ said is a lie, just make Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu a standard international airport, give Anambra a seaport and watch Lagos decongest within a short period of time..

Enugu Airport has the approval already. Your folks need to push harder for implementation. The East needs to do two things. Shut down agitation for Biafra at the moment and concentrate on development using Nigerian money and after development push for Biafra or Face Biafra's pursuit collectively get a country and develop at your own pace. The east has potentials to grow Nigeria as part of Nigeria or be a productive Neighbouring country to Nigeria. Food for thought.

azimibraun:
Enugu Airport has the approval already. Your folks need to push harder for implementation. The East needs to do two things. Shut down agitation for Biafra at the moment and concentrate on development using Nigerian money and after development push for Biafra or Face Biafra's pursuit collectively get a country and develop at your own pace. The east has potentials to grow Nigeria as part of Nigeria or be a productive Neighbouring country to Nigeria. Food for thought.

I concur with what you just said, but do you know how many years the SE have been doing that but to no avail? Believe me, the implementation won't see the light of the day. You need to know the politics on ground

The Igbos have no place in Nigeria

I am from Southeast, hv lived in Rivers State and Bayelsa State and hv observed most of their lifestyles. Most Niger Delta State especially Bayelsa and Rivers re incessantly lazy, they don't farm, they don't engage in business, they don't learn any handwork, their boys prefer cultism and militancy while their women re into prostitution.
Most of their wives re full time housewives.
Except Akwa~Ibom, Delta, and Cross River.
You hardly see Bayelsa or Rivers men engaging in taxi driving, farming, trading, etc. The educated few prefer civil service.
if u go to Niger Delta, u will find out that most of the biz men, welders, automechanics, plumbers, transporters, etc re mostly Igbos, Yorubas, Deltans, Ibomites. Cross Riverines re mostly based in their state and they re good in agriculture as well as biz.
in fact, Delta Women are too much, They hustle more than their men counterparts.
I don't know much for Edo.

This analysis is not true.

I pray that the oil sector collapse as soon as possible. That might be the only opportunity for us to start thinking. Not just here in the Delta but in the whole of Nigeria

Without this happening, we will never move forward.
Good write-up.

BeeBeeOoh:
For the first time, I Agree With You.



Point Of Correction: Dickson Is Not Just Useless, He Is Also A tOtO

Even Toto and Anus are useful compare to Dickson.

Stelvin101:


Even Toto and Anus are useful compare to Dickson.

LoL

Sealeddeal:
This analysis is not true.

Why and how is it untrue .... Can we have a debate in it

ThinkSmarter:
I am from Southeast, hv lived in Rivers State and Bayelsa State and hv observed most of their lifestyles. Most Niger Delta State especially Bayelsa and Rivers re incessantly lazy, they don't farm, they don't engage in business, they don't learn any handwork, their boys prefer cultism and militancy while their women re into prostitution.
Most of their wives re full time housewives.
Except Akwa~Ibom, Delta, and Cross River.
You hardly see Bayelsa or Rivers men engaging in taxi driving, farming, trading, etc. The educated few prefer civil service.
if u go to Niger Delta, u will find out that most of the biz men, welders, automechanics, plumbers, transporters, etc re mostly Igbos, Yorubas, Deltans, Ibomites. Cross Riverines re mostly based in their state and they re good in agriculture as well as biz.
in fact, Delta Women are too much, They hustle more than their men counterparts.
I don't know much for Edo.

Nice analysis

BeeBeeOoh:
For the first time, I Agree With You.
Point Of Correction: Dickson Is Not Just Useless, He Is Also A tOtO

No sir! He might be a dick, he's already got it in his name but certainly not a tOtO! Kindly leave d female anatomy out of this please, it is not designed to signify failure or weakness! The dick certainly can't take or do what tOtO does!

freeze001:


No sir! He might be a dick, he's already got it in his name but certainly not a tOtO! Kindly leave d female anatomy out of this please, it is not designed to signify failure or weakness! The dick certainly can't take or do what tOtO does!

Nawa oh! Just because I mentioned tOtO & you went on grammar spree..



Dickson you see your life

Stelvin101:


Even Toto and Anus are useful compare to Dickson.

Dickson! Just Lukat Your Life

BeeBeeOoh:
Nawa oh! Just because I mentioned tOtO & you went on grammar spree..

Dickson you see your life

Yes o! tOtO is absolutely personal to me.

vani86:


But the ogas on top will never allow that to happen.

It really is a no brainer

Interesting! So it is the ogas at the top that have told your EASTERN governors from the past and present not to develop critical infrastructure that would aid in the regions growth too even with all your mega allocations and available resources?


So how come this ogas at the top directive has not affected akwa ibom, lagos or rivers states?

I agree with the post. Part of what killed the Niger delta is the amnesty program where men who were known killers were brought together and put in a scheme where the federal government gives them free money or sent abroad for training they were not prepared for. This practice is the reason for the growth of militancy and from yesterday (5th Jan) I hear the federal government is getting ready to commence payment of militants again.

freeze001:


Yes o! tOtO is absolutely personal to me.

Madam Sorry oh

Anambra is actually a yardstick for development. In my opinion they aren't concerned what FG brings.

BeeBeeOoh:
Madam Sorry oh

That's my boy...Go and sin no more...

blackpanda:
Op oil is not the problem of niger delta. Rather greedy selfish and useless leaders. If oil was d problem then akwa ibom would not have been developed as it is. Bayelsa is one of the worst states in Nigeria. The governor seriake Dickson is completely useless!

A typical Akwa Ibom man reasons like an Igbo man. Come to Aba and see them! Akwa Ibom and Cross River have a lot in common with SE folks than so-called Niger Delta...geographically, they are closer to SE than so called Niger Delta, likewise socially and culturally. That's why you will never see them involved in useless militancy for selfish reasons. If they do decide to be militants...I assure you its for selfless reason such restoration of Biafraa...OF WHICH THEY WERE PART OF AND FOUGHT FOR DURING THE WAR. When most Nigerians think of Niger Delta, what comes to mind is Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, because that's what they read and see on the news all the time, You will hardly see or hear the AkwaCross involved in anything that has to do with Niger Delta except on a larger scale such as NDDC; because they hate being associated with a SHAM! Niger Delta/SS is sham to divide and steal. AkwaCross...know this very well!

If AkwaCross are allowed to decide between so-called Niger Delta and SE whom to join or form a union with, I swear to you between God and man 90% of them will choose SE...why? Because they have been neighbors with Igbos for thousands of years, and never have they had any problem...not one with Igbos! And also share a lot in common with Igbos than so-called Niger Delta people. What is it that binds an AkwaCross man to an Ijaw man, Orhobo man or an Edo man? Absolutely nothing..nada!Nothing geographically and culturally, not even in appearance! Without going deeper into Igbo and AkwaCross commonalities, just by appearance alone, you cannot differentiate between an AkwaCross man and an Igbo man because they are one people. They are direct descendants of Oruchukwu, a lineage of Gad, the progenitor of Igbos!

ariesbull:




Countries and regions that have less oil and natural resources are always more development and more sustainable than ones with oil. A closer look at countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and many others will be examples hen you place the side by side with Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and many others. The disparity in development differs. Though, there are few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions like Dubai, Russia and Qatar but most oil producing countries suffer from a malaise known as "Dutch Disease" .

Anambra state is a region that has no oil or little oil compared to a step like Delta, or Edo. Lets look at Anambra state and see why it is more sustainable than most oil producing states.

There are three major cities that drive the economic prosperity of Anambra state; Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka.
Nnewi is the industrial city of Anambra State. Nnewi is home to several indigenous industrial manufacturing companies. Nigeria’s first car manufacturing plant is located at Nnewi. Nigeria’s auto part manufacturing factories are located at Nnewi, the first Nigerian made motorcycle was and is still been produced at Nnewi. There are several number of indigenous industrial products been produced at Nnewi.

Technically, Nnewi is referred to as the ‘Japan of Africa’. One fascinating thing about Nnewi is that most (if not all) of the industrial estates and manufacturing factories located there were built by indigenous efforts and by Nneawi people. Ibeto Group of Companies, Cutix and ADswitch, Uru Industries Ltd, Omata Holdings Ltd, Cento Group of Companies, Coscharis of Companies Group, Innoson Group of Companies, Ebunso Nig. Ltd, John White Industries, Ejiamatu Group of Companies, Chicason Group, Louis Carter Group, etc are all manufacturing companies established by Nnewi people at Nnewi. These indigenous industrialists simply transformed Nnewi into what it has become. Nnewi alone accounts for over 70% of the auto parts manufacturing business in Nigeria. Nnewi has a private sector driven economy.



The indigenous industrial efforts at Nnewi means thousands of jobs for residents and millions in revenue for the state government.


Onitsha is the commercial city of Anambra State, it is gradually also becoming an industrial city too. A number of new manufacturing companies have recently sprang up within the city, making it not only a trade center but also a production center. The Onitsha main market is one of West Africa’s biggest markets and provides opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs and revenue for the state government. Onitsha is a private sector driven economy.
Awka is the state capital of Anambra state. As expected, it is a city mostly funded by state government activities. Awka hosts the government structures, universities, and a pocket of small commercial activities.


Anambra state govt seem to have an efficient civil service that has helped it survive through this period of low federal allocations. Anambra internally generates between N2-3billion Naira monthly. After Ogun State, Anambra recorded the highest improvement in IGR within the past two years.



Anambra has an impressive road network system that makes almost all of its rural communities connected by road. The same applies to electricity distribution. The state also has an impressive system of funding and managing of its basic schools. Secondary school education is subsidized, students pay between N2- 4,000 per term. Public basic education is therefore not free like it is in the Delta. This is a sustainable approach.



Every public secondary school has a made-in-Anambra-Innoson school bus. The waste disposal trucks in the state are made-in-Anambra- Innoson trucks. Some local security vehicles are made-in-Anambra-Innoson vehicles.
Anambra has a ‘community police’ system which it calls ‘vigilante’. This security system is decentralized in such a way that every community has its own team of indigenous security men, managing the security of the community. They are armed and have patrol vans. The vigilante system is more effective than the Nigerian Police system. These security officers are not paid by the communities but by the state government. These set of security officers are more visible than the Nigerian Police officers.



In the government school where I worked, we have a brand new sound proof generator which Peter Obi delivered to the school years back. I am sure the school has never used that generator since it was delivered. We also have two other generators, we only use one of them. The school has also replaced its black boards with white boards and have therefore replaced chalks with markers. The school is a beneficiary of an NCC initiative and therefore has internet access, tens of laptops and desktop computers which it uses to teach its students. Our library has good books and the overall management of the school is commendable. Supervisors show up from state ministry once in a while to assess teachers performance. Its a state owned school.



The youth corpers who passed out of service last month in Anambra state received between 80-140k backlog payment for their service to the state. Surprisingly, while oil rich states like Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have either slashed state youth corpers allowances by half or even stopped payment, Anambra state early this year increased corpers allowances and paid them all sometime last month before their passing out.



Anambra has an impressive number of indigenous billionaires who are driving their local economy. It is rumored that Anambra state alone has the highest number of billionaires in Nigeria as at today. I do not mean resident billionaires, I mean billionaires by state of origin. You can research this yourself.



On agriculture; there is a group of people called Anam in Anambra state. These people are driving the agricultural revolution in the state. They are as hardworking as the Hausa/Fulani manual workers. Those who know the Hausa/Fulani manual workers in the South will attest to their productive ability to deliver on difficult projects at cheap rates. And they provide cheap labor. In Bayelsa for example, the local Ijaw unskilled workers are complaining about how the Hausa/Fulani manual workers are taking over their manual jobs. These set of people can deliver on any kind of labor work and their prices are unbelievable. Anambra has these kind of people too and they are from the Anam area. The Anam people of Anambra state are predominantly farmers. In terms of agriculture, they are as productive as Northern Nigeria. Farming is their religion and their location along the Niger River gives them an edge over other farming groups in the state. They grow yam, tomato, plantain, rice, cassava, melon, potatoe, and many others. It is rumored that Anambra is now getting close to been self-sufficient in tomato production; thanks to the Anam people. I also hear that Anambra now exports vegetable.


One interesting thing I like about Anambra people is their hustling spirit and the drive to develop their hometowns even without government support. You will be amazed at what individuals and diaspora town unions are doing to develop their communities in Anambra state. A man named Ichue Mike Ezenduka built a 4.2 kilometer road for his community from his personal pocket. Another man named Dr. Godwin Maduka is building a 15 storey specialist Orthopaedic hospital in his hometown, this is outside the number of other projects he has constructed there. An Anambra business man named Authur Eze pays every youth corper serving in his hometown an additional ten thousand Naira monthly from his personal pocket. There are several other interesting efforts by Anambra people that I do not want to mention here. The point is, the rich people of Anambra consider themselves as part of govt and also take social responsibilities, especially as it affects their immediate hometowns.


Anambra state is a sustainable state because, just like Lagos, the economy is not funded by politics of allocation alone which boils down to the civil service. The industrial and commercial activities are what drives the economy and even the politics.


In oil states like Delta and Bayelsa, the bulk of the economy is funded by politics. Asaba for example is a city sustained by government patronage. Yenegoa depends heavily on federal allocations. If civil servants are not paid, the economy (down to the market women) becomes grounded as it has recently become. After churches, the next biggest industry in Yenegoa is hotel.


These hotels are patronized by mostly oil contractors and govt officials, with the grounding of the oil sector which by extension also grounds the govt, the hotel industry has nearly collapsed due to low patronage. In the past, due to free oil money, the govt of Bayelsa employed 'everybody' to work in its civil service as a way of empowerment and wealth creation. Today, the action is no longer sustainable and the decision is difficult to reverse. Today, the civil servants cannot be paid nor sacked. The state is almost grounded. Despite the free oil money that has accrued to the Niger Delta states over the years, the region still suffers from been seen as a sustainable region. Its civil service is fraudulently bogus, its development contracts are ridiculously inflated, its businessmen are administrative based, they rise with an administration and fall when the administration leaves office. Their sources of wealth cannot be sustained because it is based on govt patronage. Akwa Ibom has fantastic public infrastructures but there are no serious internal economic activities to sustain the system. Port Harcourt city of Rivers State is gradually feeling the heat of the oil sector crisis. Port Harcourt industrial economy is oil servicing based. The other economy is funded by politics. With the oil sector in crisis, Port Harcourt is becoming a stagnant city in terms of economic prosperity. IOCs are unable to pay contractors. Contractors are forced to lay off staff to remain afloat. The Onne Port which would have created an alternative economic prosperity for the state is greatly and wrongly tied to the oil & gas sector and is badly affected by federal politics.


While Anambra state is producing and selling indigenous products to the rest of Nigeria and earning exchange to sustain its people and state, most Niger Delta states are still at the level of consumption. This is the big difference.
Recently, a development commission in the Niger Delta needed a client to purchase some plastic products worth over two hundred million Naira. I was directed to find a manufacturer that meets the specification. I could not find any in Port Harcourt or any other Niger Delta state. I ended up recommending Innoson factory at Enugu and another at Lagos. The deal has already been struck. Enugu and Lagos will be patronized for the contract. This is what we are talking about. Enugu, Anambra and Lagos have products to offer Nigeria just like the North is offering in agriculture. What are the Niger Delta states offering the rest of Nigeria to earn more money for its govt?


The future of Nigeria lies not even in agriculture but in manufacturing. This is why I am impressed at what indigenous people are doing at Nnewi and Lagos.
The Niger Delta might have lost its golden opportunity just like other regions of the country due to the resource curse syndrome which comes with free oil money. Anambra is successful because indigenous Anambra people have a natural inclination to succeed by whatever means necessary. A lot still has to be done by the state govt though.


Anambra could have been better if the federal politics was right. Anambra could have been better if the constitution made room for community based govt which they already do practice in some sense. I have seen community unions donate transformers, build public schools, manage hospitals and do many more things in that igbo land. It all shows that there is a sense of responsibility towards home. With a community based govt system in a place like Anambra, development will reach the grassroot. I see a place like Anambra becoming an ideal destination for economic opportunities.
I hope the Niger Delta people will learn a thing or two from the Anambra people soon. Its time to think home in a sustainable manner.


It is time for state govts to pick up the list of imported products into Nigeria and say to themselves, what and what on this list can we replace between now and three years time from our states? What is our comparative advantage?


The Igbos are already trying to overcome the Forex crisis by expanding their local manufacturing base by finding local substitutes. The Igbos are both traders and industrialists. They don't only sell, they also produce. Onitsha and Nnewi is a perfect example of this illustration and Anambra state is simply reaping the benefits from its peoples effort. Everyday you see trucks moving finished goods from Anambra to other parts of Nigeria just like it is done from Lagos state. You hardly see same from most Niger Delta states.


The unitary system that we practice has hampered competition among states for too long. It is becoming clearer now that there will likely be no more free oil money soon. Those like Anambra who have laid the foundation for industrial revolution have nothing to fear. The industrial companies will provide the taxes through which the govt will survive. That is how it should be.
I feel worried for Bayelsa state. I worry for Delta state too. And I pray that the oil sector collapse as soon as possible. That might be the only opportunity for us to start thinking. Not just here in the Delta but in the whole of Nigeria.



https://etimesafrica./2017/01/06/anambra-state-lessons-that-niger-delta-
states-must-learn/#more-3691

111jideofor " a nairalander" wrote this

I'm an Urhobo from Delta State. I admire this post because, so far, it has no tribalistic sentiments.

Anambra is a great state. South Southerners are gradually becoming too lazy and less enterprising because of too much reliance on oil money. Instead of working hard like the South Easterners to develop our economy and states, they would rather drink kai-kai (local gin) and analyse politics and oil money beside newspaper stands.

God will help us.

caleboxylic:


111jideofor " a nairalander" wrote this

Yes and the credit was given to him and the man thg fired it also

They did a good work