bakynes:
I have never seen Jealous people like people from the SS and SE.

If only many of you knew Lagos when the FG moved the Capital to Abuja, you won't be saying these rubbish you are saying.

It was fast becoming a forgotten city with dirt everywhere, Criminals and decay of infrastructure. If that state had gone to the ground you guys would have blamed the Yoruba people but now the City is about one of the fastest growing cities in the world and attracting investors, you now have the mouth to say the Yoruba Governors did nothing, Lagos was favoured by the FG over other states when actually the FG has moved everything away from Lagos except the sea port and Airport.

The issue of Sea port, among all the Ports in Nigeria only Lagos has a deep sea port and requires no dredging to accommodate a lot of large ships, all ships coming from Europe passes through Lagos first, if you look at the Map. Lagos is the closest to the Atlantic Ocean, The ports in the Niger delta especially the Onne port are used for Petroleum activities, they are not maribond.

PunditAfrica:


People have bn migrating to lagos since late 18th century my dear. B4 Nigeria, Lagos was already a huge potential. That the white pple settled in lagos to administer yet to be Nigeria as far back as 185* was not a mistake. Lagos is meant for greatness...

Afam4eva:
This topic is really interesting but trust the stupid people of this world to run it down with their low IQ and they wonder why their families still languish in unimaginable poverty when their supposed bread winners are busy behaving like children on Nairaland. What a set of wasted generation.

@topic
Like i side this is an interesting topic and i agree with the writer wholeheartedly. Lagos has been Nigeria's bride for a very long time and this has affected the growth and development of other Nigerian cities. The only cities that have seen to enjoy some form of attention are Abuja because it's Nigeria's new capital and Port-hacourt because it's the headquarter of the oil industry. But i think right now, we have to blame Lagos less and put the blame squarely on the federal government which has refused to practice a true federal system where no state should be dependent on the federal government. That way the states will get creative and carve a niche for themselves. Right now, everybody is lazy because they get monthly stipends from the federation account. Lagos is lucky because it was already set for greatness before Nigeria started falling apart. So, it has used that unique advantage to grow even more than ever before. Ogun state is supposed to use it's closeness to Lagos to also create something for itself but the governments of Ogun state from Osoba till now have not been ambitious. The spill off from Lagos into Ogun state is just a natural phenomenon. The Ogun state government have had no hand in it. Since Lagos is becoming choked, it's only natural for people to spread out to where there's and.

alexiej:


Well, technically, Nasarrawa cannot do much with their mineral resources cos the Fed Govt has exclusive rights to that... But I get your point though.

I stay in Oyo State and I know how desperately 'UN-INNOVATIVE' our leaders are here. No thoughts as to how to increase IGR, apart from taxes and levies. Osun gov could not generate anything reasonable from his state and he blamed the Jonathan administration for his inability to pay his staff cos according to him, Osun got the lowest allocation. Now, his party member is president and he can't complain about that anymore, yet, he hasn't paid salaries.
When Obasanjo starved Lagos of funds then, they had to think out ways to generate money.

I am a law student. I know the landmark laws and procedures that Lagos has pioneered in Nigeria. They seem to review their laws regularly and even though there's still a lot to do, they seem to be on their toes about it. But what do you see in Oyo State, Osun state, etc? Copy copy! Busy copying from Lagos... Without thinking!!! So it's in everything, not revenue generation alone. It's in law, education, infrastructure.... Yet, our own governors, commissioners don't think here. Why wouldn't Lagos keep leading?

I agree with you bro.... It would actually be unfair to think Lagos has anything to do with the failures of other states. I wonder if the Niger Delta people actually know that their governors receive so much commission on the oil explored from their states. Cos if they do, all these wailing would stop, and they would hold their governors to account for why their states are the way they are, and they would leave Lagos out of their issues.

IdeyFindWife:


Am from a so-called minority tribe but av been privileged to have related with government service infrastructures all over the 6 geopolitical zones and frankly speaking, politicians and civil service structure's the same everywhere all over Nigeria. Don't deceive yourself, aside from the good ones, majority of politicians and policy-implementing public servants have been a let-down to this country thus far.

People in each State first have to think for themselves by electing forward-thinking administrations with strategic long-term business plans and developmental models for their States which will not only grow them but answer all the deeper yearnings of the individual tribes/people-groups present in them! That being done plus good representative governance comprised of compassionate and conscientious men who won't go to Abuja to sell-out would have being great foundations for autonomous state developments.

Instead, what do we do? We tribalize every little thing right from council and ward levels. We queued up behind kolanut&yam eating deceivers who are ran elections with Bank Loans and long lists of pay-back conditions from different groups, financiers and godfathers!

When did the narrative change from thieving governors stealing enough money to be richer than their own States? When did everybody suddenly forget the stupidly-meddlesome contributions of the Military regimes and their damaging impact up till the present OR the need for constitutional/public sector reforms and restructuring the country?

Most tribalistic Nigerians have no personal history or reason for devolving into such hateful goblins with shallow mindlessness and perennial selective forgetfulness of everything else except their spite; they just stupidly buy into it!

The push-pull effect of you, Yoruba/Hausa/Igbo tribes and your constant puerile bickering has sabotaged the rest of us long enough! We don't need Lagos, y'all who want it and go take it and die for all we care. Being paired with y'all has been backward-tracking curse, not a blessing! And you're still talking shyt!

You people should get your shyt together!

That Lagos that you are crying over didn't start out as a problem to you. Lagos never campaigned to usurp any other State's position, resources or opportunities. The fact that you're not thinking or moving does not mean others should stop for you to overtake them. This is a Capitalist environment! If Lagos was not openly all inclusive, all tribes wouldn't be so glaringly well-represented there to the point that people call it a "No-Man's-Land"! To turn around and bite that same finger that fed so fat reveals depths of moral blindness and ungrateful wretchedness.

You've printed and distributed "Blame-cards" to Lagos and everyone else for your problems thus far. I'm sure you'll soon go and give God his own copy personally if you don't stop raising your Blood-Pressure needlessly like this.

sunnyeinstein:


Is it lagos' fault that other states are not performing their statutory functions?
If the governors pay salaries, better security for the people, provide more basic amenities, businesses will flock into such states. No one should blame lagos, rather they should take a cue from that city (just as ogun state is gradually emulating)

Guestlander:
I think what we are seeing regarding Lagos is true for many other countries, for Germany it is Bavaria, for USA it is California, China the Guangdong region, Canada it is Ontario. Lagos is not underdeveloping the rest of Nigeria it is actually doing the opposite.

Guestlander:
I think what we are seeing regarding Lagos is true for many other countries, for Germany it is Bavaria, for USA it is California, China the Guangdong region, Canada it is Ontario. Lagos is not underdeveloping the rest of Nigeria it is actually doing the opposite.

chachanga:


Bravo Sir, well sir!

People vote intellectually sapped leaders who only flew into to rig and win elections to 'rule' over people who's struggles they know nothing about and for whom, they have no plans, mercy or compassion. they're just political-prostitutes managing their own political-olosho career.

Governments ought to be integrative and holistic working first for the good of their people/State instead of upholding biased, destructive party sentiments...nobody is saying anything about that!

TheRealestGuy:


Just like you, most of y'all ranting and foaming did not fully understand the succinct article.

The writer never blamed Lagos for anything but rather he pointed out the unfortunate role of the federal government in it.

Di you know that almost all federal parastatals are sited in either Lagos or Abuja?


The only functional seaport for a country as big as ours in in Lagos.

He also blamed the private investors and even state governments for not doing their bit, but a large chunk of the blame still goes to the central government.

The constant influx of people into Lagos is not a very good thing and in the neatest future you will see why. The central government must put in concerted efforts to start locating federal projects (eg seaports, rail lines, power projects) outside Lagos and Abuja, not only for the good of other states but for the good of the two aforementioned states.

Try to read, digest and comprehend before typing.

TheRealestGuy:


Just like you, most of y'all ranting and foaming did not fully understand the succinct article.

The writer never blamed Lagos for anything but rather he pointed out the unfortunate role of the federal government in it.

Di you know that almost all federal parastatals are sited in either Lagos or Abuja?


The only functional seaport for a country as big as ours in in Lagos.

He also blamed the private investors and even state governments for not doing their bit, but a large chunk of the blame still goes to the central government.

The constant influx of people into Lagos is not a very good thing and in the neatest future you will see why. The central government must put in concerted efforts to start locating federal projects (eg seaports, rail lines, power projects) outside Lagos and Abuja, not only for the good of other states but for the good of the two aforementioned states.

Try to read, digest and comprehend before typing.

fidukpong:
It beats my imagination when egg heads compare Lagos and states like Akwa Ibom. People involve in such needs rethink. Had Lagos developed at the pace Akwa Ibom and other younger states are Lagos would have been our California. No state government has abused power more than those of Lagos but the FG presence had been a big cover up.

Why won't Lagos judiciary system be better when the seat of Justice had been in Lagos for a long time until literally moved to ABJ. Why can't Ambode repair bridges already built by FG.

BF had been tagged to be extraordinary gov while in Lagos and even castigating FG in power then but today he's lost as a minister only to be baptized "minister of darkness" - why can't he do the magic.

If a state like akwa ibom gets 1/10 of FG presence Lagos has, it would be on record that Lagos has no brains. For those who may not bother to research, most companies had sited their HQ in Lagos just for sake of nearness to where policies were formulated (IT was not available as it is today ) and availability of resources like airports, seaports, embassies, infarct commercial hub for cheaper and easier business purposes as these transactions were basically manual in nature. Issues of insecurity is secondary as things like militancy just cropped in due to inability of FG to harness the situation.

Believe it or yes, FG presence in Lagos for decades is a spring board for development in Lagos. Abuja is already outsmarting Lagos in terms of town planning, road networks, etc because ABJ is built in an era of modern industrialization. In no time, we wud be hearing that Govs in ABJ have never stolen. Lagos has no excuse not to develop infarct the space of development in Lagos is sluggish because the never had/have smart government to consummate opportunities available to them during the 100% presence of the FG

caracas:

Oga the best governor till date in Lagos state is buba marwa .jakande also did very well during his time .
Pls stop making all this ur useless noise of how tinubu did this n that .I see how brf that tinubu imposed is doing well now as a federal minister ,after all he now has a formidable nick name "minister of darkness" .
For ur info all Lagos state governors have bin seen as performing governors right from the days of jakande ,because Lagos was the fct of Nigeria for many years .
The fg developed Lagos to the detriment of other states.
This special advantage is what ls the key to its success and not its leaders or governors.
As a matter of fact any dumb head wud have ruled Lagos even better than tinubu did .
Brf that can be classified as an intelligent person is currently failing at the federal level .
A club like real Madrid does not need a good coach to succeed cos it already has everything it takes to succeed,this is exactly the case with Lagos.
The op was right Lagos is responsible for the underdevelopment of other states in an apparent way.

IdeyFindWife:
To turn around and bite that same finger that fed so fat reveals depths of moral blindness and ungrateful wretchedness.

janellemonae:


Ahh! Typical.

okooyinbo:



The situation like we have in Nigeria is not available in Germany. Germany is to a certain degree evenly developed if we exempt the states formed from the erstwhile GDR. In your list, the country where you can possibly find the Lagos/Nigeria situation would be China/Guangdong. The gap in development between the States/Provinces in the other countries listed are not as wide as found in Nigeria.

By the way, how do you come about that Bavaria wields such power and influence that is attributed to Lagos in Germany? Bavaria is not even the state with the largest economy in Germany. North Rhine Westphalia is the largest state in Germany population and economy wise. If you talk of per Capital income, she is not even the number one either. Hamburg has higher per capital income than Bavaria. Bavaria is nevertheless a very rich German state, but she does not have such position Lagos has.

goingsolo:
Dear Money,

Due to fact, All the ethnic Groups in Nigeria have overwhelmingly agreed that it is only the IGBOS that have love for Money so much....Please Arise and Visit every IGBO person hustling Anywhere Across the Globe. Visit them in DOLLARS, in POUNDS, in EUROS, in NAIRA, and please do not visit any other Tribe because they keep denying you in Public, Amen..

Guestlander:


You are right, Germany is now more evenly developed and the disparity I was trying to point out is not easily noticeable.
This is also true for the other countries I mentioned but if you dial the clock back to when these countries were still developing then you will fully understand what I was trying to point out.
These economic positions are obviously not written in stone especially when other regions are also working hard to get ahead.

Some regions like California and Ontario have been able to hold on to their leading positions in their various countries for a very long time and I have never heard of a situation when any of them was regarded as stunting the development of their sister states, instead other states are constantly working hard to improve their own economy.
My main concern therefore is why are other states not trying to catch up with Lagos? Government should not be compelling private companies to locate their headquarters or businesses anywhere that is not how businesses operate, if you provide a conducive environment for them to come to your state, I think they will come without any coercion.

shuni05:


Nice one bro, all I've been saying to my friends when they bring up this topic. If each state got what Lagos got. I'll bet some states might actually be doing better than Lagos right now.

However, I feel the Government is making the same mistake all over again and will result in Nigeria having another "Lagos". Concentrating your development on just Abuja leaving the rest of the country to develop itself. Compare DC to the rest of the US, a lot people won't know Geneve isn't the capital of Switzerland. If we model our country like this then we'll end up having just 2-3 good places where people will always wanna move to. I kind of envy the Germans, you'll do as good as someone in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg e.tc. because it's developed. I even heard the big cities are located at some specific distances from one another in other to develop others around.

On a more serious note, I think Lagos is more or else like "Guardiolas Barcelona", bring any coach (except Wenger) and they'll perform, compare other states to the rest in the league not matter how good your governor/coach is, they'll still be the shadows of Barcelona.

Guestlander:


You are right, Germany is now more evenly developed and the disparity I was trying to point out is not easily noticeable.
This is also true for the other countries I mentioned but if you dial the clock back to when these countries were still developing then you will fully understand what I was trying to point out.
These economic positions are obviously not written in stone especially when other regions are also working hard to get ahead.

Some regions like California and Ontario have been able to hold on to their leading positions in their various countries for a very long time and I have never heard of a situation when any of them was regarded as stunting the development of their sister states, instead other states are constantly working hard to improve their own economy.
My main concern therefore is why are other states not trying to catch up with Lagos? Government should not be compelling private companies to locate their headquarters or businesses anywhere that is not how businesses operate, if you provide a conducive environment for them to come to your state, I think they will come without any coercion.

Odingo1:
All these SW people bragging about lagos and how their people develop lagos should tell us one single infrastructure that was built by their governors that made lagos the economic capital of Nigeria from 1999,
All ports there was built by FG
The standard international airport there was built by FG.
Oil headquarters was manipulated to move to lagos by FG
Bank headquarters all in lagos
Embassies for visa issues are mainly in lagos
All bridges was built by FG like third mainland bridge,Iganmu-VI bridge etc( i am not talking of flyover)

aribisala0:



There is nothing like economic capital ,we have only one capital,

There is an airport in all major states nott just Lagos.

The Port was built by the British before independence.

There is no law forcing Banks to have their headuarters in Lagos

The bank CEOs like living in Lagos ,I wonder why

The issue here today is why there is so much money in Lagos is it because of Bridges and Embassies?

By the way all embassies are in Abuja . Even when they were in Lagsos the state governmennt coud not perform as it is now.


Is it the FG that made Dangote site his refinery in Lagos ..Why does Dangote himself live in Lagos?

Please explain how having oil headquarters contributed to the economy of Lagos before 1999. Did they start paying tax to Lagos state after 1999 because as of 1999 total IGR in lagos was 12 billion Naira a year and today it is over 300 billion

logica:
I even checked your profile to confirm the ugliness.

logica:
LMAO. Best Governor of Lagos till date was Buba Marwa! Something new to learn everyday.

Afam4eva:


You have a point. And yes, every state is a goldmine however, what they lack is the push that Lagos got. That's my point. For instance, Oyo is a state with a lot of potential. It even has a huge population size but there's a brain drain in places like Oyo whereby the best brains go to Lagos, Abuja or abroad. In Nigeria, it's like if you're not in Lagos, you can't make it in life. That's the anthem that the federal government have perpetuated over the decades because they have setup infrastructure that has put Lagos at a pedestal that it's easier for the current government to build upon. Even states like Akwa Ibom that have the money decided to use it to develop their states, they built quality roads, bridges, hospitals, schools etc but the hospitals were virtually empty as there were no doctors available. All the doctors were in Lagos. Lagos doesn't try so hard, things just work it it because everything is there already. Other states on the other hand will need some catalyst whether in form of an individual or resources to turn things around.