₦airaland Forum

Funjosh:
The Akoko, are they really Yoruba

When you study Samuel Johnson history of the Yoruba, it was centred on Oyo Empire and by no means exhaustive of all Yoruba tribes.Basically it was pro Oyo but Oyo was the youngest empire as at then, there were other kingdoms way back before Oyo and even before Ife.
Most pro Yoruba groups across the world talked of Ife but ife became prominent at the time of Oduduwa and before Oduduwa became the Adimula Olofin, there has been over 90 kings that had reigned. If for instance a king reigned an average of 10 years(some would be less others could be up to 50) then Ife had been having kings for over 900years. So what about those years? The Revd history never covered all of ife just largely Oyo.The Oyo were referred to as the Yoruba initially which now apply to all.Historically, places like Ekiti to Ondo, Idanre ,Owo and may be Ijebu predate ife and Oyo
Alot of Yoruba tribes not captured in Revd Johnson history include most of Ekiti, Ondo states, Yoruba in Kogi, Bini, Itsekiri, Olukumi, Gbagyi and Igala,Ilaje, Ikale etc

I honestly feel better with the op revealing the neglect of the land rather than showing off glitz of the land.Honestly Yoruba has been the greatest loser of the Nigeria project.The tripod on which Nigeria was founded were equal among West, East and North. To now have 14% of the nation's wealth distribution if right is gross injustice.
sometimes I just look at threads about East and West and laugh, the North which was originally one became 3 Geopolitical zones, the West remains as one and East 2. The North has gained over 50% if all infrastructural developments, appointments and now has Abuja, that naturally place it above other regions. They are just waiting for one more thing, confirmation of sufficient oil and gas around lake Chad basin.
One thing the north lack is skilled labor and they are rising but their undoing may end up being the Middle Belt.
if Nigeria cease to be a country today the North has gained more, having Abuja, Kaduna ,Zaria, kano and Bauchi in the same country cannot be matched by any other country that may be but, the only hope is regionalism and at least 50% resource control, that will help the south to develop ay faster rate.

Great thread, God bless you.
Its good you chose to celebrate your own but I think there's the need to focus more on challenges facing the Yoruba states and people. They stream out graduates and are facing unemployment more than other groups and pressure must be put on those in government to deliver on proactive and creative infrastructures to support economic developments.
Take Oyo state for instance, ibadan is Nigeria's largest city, Ogbomoso is probably third largest in Southwest, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin etc have all not been translated to economic value. The Oyo and Oke Ogun areas in Oyo state can produce enough food crops for the whole of southwest, yet government has no clear cut transport policy, no secondary market, just nothing.
Ibadan is just starting to witness some levels of government attention. The cross of Ibadan is no longer Lagos but Abuja because many investors see the FCT as a place to make money in the services industry. Ogun as an industrial giant isn't in doubt and itvwill continue to be but the government of the state has failed to strategize by taking advantage of those new Lagos cities.They are all abandoned from Otta to Mowe Ibafo, Agbara ,I thought right thinking government would have built cheap estates with shopping malls, hotels, schools to create new economic centre's , large markets, mechanic village etc
The failure of ogun state in that wise can be blessings to ibadan because the next economic city to Lagos is ibadan and places like Otta are overpopulated and the transit system is abysmal
I think Osun has not gained anything significant since Akande left and together with Ondo and Ekiti need rebirth.
The current economic downturn is now making people open their eyes and demand for accountability in governance and if the next 8years can be result oriented, the southwest will move forward

Let's look at two two issues SLS is advocating:
1. Devalue the naira; may be to 250-300 to a dollar
2. Remove oil subsidy at the same time

When 1 and 2 above happen, the price of importing refined petroleum products will increase meaning that consumers will need more to fill their vehicles and this will create price hike(inflation) in other sectors such as transportation, cost of production(because power supply isn't 70% yet),foods prices and so on. It means Nigerians will now spend more from their incomes or salaries to do the same thing they were doing before meaning that they will have less to save and less to spend on possible investments or equivalents.

Due to reduction in crude oil prices in the international market, prices of products have fallen but a weaker naira will erode possible gains. Now the pros and cons are myriads and interwoven. I think even China still manages its currency.I have never been a fan of Sanusi though he's rhetoric but I doubt the competency of his approach in the banking reforms, he didn't do enough to protect the economy, had or gave in to ulterior motives and banks takeovers were not transparent enough.
I think government must also protect the weak, find ways to generate more income through tax expansion, devolve power and responsibilities to states or regions and cede alot of responsibilities to those governments.
As is it today, I for see oil price coming to like $42 before any rise and apart from any 3rd world war, demand can't possibly raise oil price beyond $80 again technology will keep the price around $50 through shale.
The rise in demand spurred by China market cannot be repeated again, China is peaking and remainder of the BRIC especially India will be over supplied by new oil blocs.
Nigeria must focus on gas and seek other exports earners in cocoa etc while protecting the domestic market especially farmers through patronage and domestic secondary market.
Quickly fix power and refineries, railways and license small players across all industries, banks, insurance, manufacturing etc.
The rot in the system shows Jonathan government didn't focus on the economy. I think of now its one way the only way for Buhari government, recover looted funds up to $30billion to fix those sectors and kick start the economy, but that means serious war!

Your submission is clear and honestly, its a reflection of the thoughts and desires of many Niger Deltans. I have always preached Regionalism and having 50% derivation across board for all the regions will solve alot of structural problems which include incomes from taxes, mineral resources etc.
If Biafra agitators are pursuing this, believe me all other groups up to the middle belt will support this.
The reality of a Biafra with Niger Delta is slim and even a united Niger Delta federation though better but slim too.
Why? Take the case of itsekiri, they have been under constant attacks from their neighbors urhobo and ijaw and would rather join the Yoruba than risk extinction.
Also, some groups in Edo if not all may desire to go west than south. And as part of the survival tactics, groups as Ebira, igala ,Tiv Bariba, Gede and Idoma may be part of Oduduwa and in case of war, the Ijaw can negotiate a union with Oduduwa even the Urhobo.
The op had talked extensively, 50% derivation and regional government is the way forward.

Beg to disagree. A high deposit rate translates to high borrowing rates for the business people. If banks are paying 15% for example, they will have to lend out at about 20% so that they can cover cost and make money.





Am really impressed this morning seeing guys touch on issues like this on nairaland. So I've shared and liked loads of your thoughts. This should be trending with suggestions as to what government can do.
I think I've advocated that government need to expand its income through tax incomes, I think Fashola lectured the senate on this last week and this doesn't necessarily translate to higher tax rates.
Also government need to reduce the rates on its treasury bills , cut down interest rates, cut down its expenses especially all those unnecessary perks for its top echelon in the civil service, political appointees etc
Nigerians must begin to learn how to do business and I don't mean all the import based business and trading that keeps our consumer behavior perceptually glued to foreign products.
Now, our economy must be able to produce what we consume, from shirts to rice.One of the major problem is the idea of importing everything and killing the local industry and this is one of the reason the inflation rate keeps soaring.
Nigeria banks have not been active in the real sector of the economy and realistically speaking, its now high time they engage investments experts, risks managers and liaise with consultants in lending to SMEs and industrialist and spreading their incomes over a longer period/tenor.
We must understand the following:
1. The percentage of made in Nigeria goods must increase through the encouragement of productions. If am in government I will advise that at least 20 hours of electricity be given to industrial areas without fail especially Lagos, Ogun and cheranda in kano
2. Government must begin to look at reducing the number of MDGs to cut down costs may be targeting recurrent expenditure of 50% by end of 2016. Needless aides, needless training and medical allowances all should be cut off and ogas that have put in at least 30years in service should all be retired.
3. The SON should begin to work, I think government should begin to see the enforcement of its programs through institutional frameworks that can drive government policies.Such institutions as Nafdac etc need reforms a whole lots.
4. People into trading must begin to think investing in the production ends of their goods

Just my few line cos of time

Interesting thread. But I don't like the way intellectual issues as this is being treated like joke.

Few years ago when the Benin monarch wrote his book on Elkaderhan and it baceme a thorough argument, channels tv in its one sunrise Saturday morning program hosted the second in command to the king, one chief named Akpata(remember?)
One salient point made by him on the program was that although he may not be able to talk on the ogiso era, but the last 920 years record in Benin palace showed that the Oba ruling houses have always been Yoruba or Ife. He said Yoruba has been the palace language and some prominent Bini families, think he mentioned Bello Osagie family too.please check channels tv archive if you are interested.
I strongly believe the relationship between Yoruba(ife) and Benin is of blood relation. What I seek to know is the extent of the old Ife kingdom, until proven otherwise I believe it covers from Ife through Ekiti to fringes of Delta.
Using the term Yoruba itself limits our knowledge of a people who were ancient and had links with Egyptian empire.

GenBuhari:
Most was ok.

I was fairly impressed by Dr Onu.

Least impressed by Kayode Fayemi, in fact if he must be a minister he should be given a lesser ministry with minimal budgetary responsibility.

He should not be allowed anywhere near the Foreign Ministry.

The things that I did not like about his past and what he said during the screening included:

1. He claimed that Foreign policy during the days of Abacha when we intervened in Liberia and Sierra Leone were too charitable as we did not benefit financially from our intervention, in terms of seeking reconstruction contracts.

Firstly this is a shortsighted view. The stability of our neighbours and region from the intervention is justification by itself.

Abacha was poisoned by USA sponsored agents soon after the intervention so it should have been Thief Obasanjo who should have pursued these contracts and reaped the benefits of the goodwill Abacha had sowed.

Instead clueless Fayemi in this same breath praised Thief Obasanjo for linking domestic interests to foreign intervention.

At this point I knew he could not be a minister if I had anything to do with it.

Secondly his stated opposition of Abacha of running a secret illegal radio station is treachery and hypocritcal given that Abacha was the leader that created Ekiti state which he later sought to run as governor.

His record as governor left a legacy of indebtedness for the state.

Very disappointing.

I am thinking if he must be made minister he should be considered for Minister of Immigration or a similar lesser ministry.

Please don't find it offensive if I say you are one of the reasons Nigerian youths are still being undermined as undeserving in governance.
He tan an illegal radio to oust an illegal and despotic government. He also made the economic situation of his state explicit, he said he met and settled debt amounting to thirty billion, had to raise funds to execute capital project and some of those bonds will be maturing plus other obligations to contractors etc amounting to eighteen billion.Bro, I think you don't know anything about governance but to do armchair criticism.
Sentiments apart, I listened to him and I saw a brilliant man, the best yesterday. My reservation was in the socialist approach to poverty alleviation, but I still remember the scriptures that says we must care for the weak.

I think Fayemi is an intellectual star and has put his know how into governance and demostrated sufficient knowledge in policy management. I think for a man to spend over forty minutes answering questions across three critical areas of governance; Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs,Education and the Economy in general, you have to give it to him.

His idea of bringing prisons service under the judiciary was opening to the menace of prison congestion.That was practicable, deep and I will support he be posted to the internal affairs and carry out reforms in the police,prison ,immigration and civil defense.i rate him as the best today.

Fashola and Fayemi may give good loyalty to Buhari but they can't betray Tinubu.

sunnyb0b0:
Fayemi is a great guy but there is nothing intimidating in listing all the one day courses one attended, all the committees one has been member of and all the articles one wrote as part of a CV. If you want to see an intimidating CV, see Soludo's CV.

Your comment shows the level you are. When you begin to ascend in your field, you will know the essence of papers, workshops, roundtables, seminars etc. You rub minds and get new insights to salient issues, you share ideas with successful executives and managers and have fair ideas on best practices elsewhere and how such can benefit your dreams.
As much as going to school is good, more industry knowledge is gained through knowledge sharing as these.
Fayemi is an elite, he had a dream but Ekiti is rather more laid back, he's fit for international community.

OTDR:
Your assertion applies to both sides. You dont assume that Israel doesnt want its enemies like Hezbollah destroyed, which btw was its war objective when it Invaded Lebanon in 2006. But we all know how catastrophic it turned out for Israel. Not only did it fail terribly, today Hezbollah, according to even Israeli military Intelligence, is stronger than it ever was.

Stone throwing Palestinians or Hamas or Hezbollah which by the way had a "stalemate" with Israel in 2006 are just all a storm in a tea cup compared to a foe which we should be talking about here, which is Iran. You keep wailing about Arab nations and so on, as if Iranians fall in same category. That's just plain Ignorance speaking. FYI, the Iranians aint Arabs, they are Persians, a very tough breed of people. These are people that even while under arm embargo, single handedly defeated Saddam Hussein 2 million man army (who were supported by Arab & Western countries with the most sophisticated weapons and finance ) in a brutal 8 years war. And today, Iran is stronger that it ever has been with a self-sufficient military industry.

[b]If you dont mind sticking to the topic, I like to ask again: can Israel, which was claimed to have had a "stalemate" with Hezbollah (a small Iranian proxy army group) defeat the Persians single handedly without direct US military intervention? [/b]Common sense says, IMPOSSIBLE.

Fighting Hezbollah is different from fighting a conventional war with another country because of terms of engagements. Hezbollah is in Lebanon,armed by Iran and drawing supports from Arabs countries. They can easily pose as civilians and use civilian infrastructures. There's no way Israel can conduct surgical strikes without incurring collateral damage diplomatically especially among its Arabs friendly enemies.
Remember that even among friendly countries like Egypt and Jordan, there are sizeable population that kicks against the existence of Israel and its the reason for American timely intervention.
The extent of Iranian military development is unknown and Israel fear that a nuclear Iran will become too powerful to fight and overly strong military Iran will embolden Hamas and equip Hezbollah.
I think at the moment Iran won't want to fight Israel and vice versa but Iran will step up its arming Hezbollah and Hamas to trouble Israel but I think this constantly put Israeli idf on war alert to their detriment

It is pertinent to accept that someday and someway there will be the need to reorganize Nigeria as a country or as multinational nations. The current ethusiasm in the political arena(am a stunt supooorter of a transformed and better Nigeria) will be make even more better when political arrangements that can give rise to sustainable economy and virile nation is embarked on. This will in no doubt help to breed a competitive economy and a country of free citizens without fear of gender or religious bias.
Why we can today consign this to the background and support President Buhari in his efforts at killing corruption and other economic vices, we must ,as a matter of proactive developments begin to imagine and work at the type of Nigeria that can become a developed country soon say in the next fifteen years.
My position: Decentralization of political and economic systems to regional arrangement in a slim federal/ confederal structure. If Nigeria fails(I pray she wont) then, the possibility is that the nationalists will win becomes explicit. Among all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, though the idea of Biafra has become loud of late, I think the Yoruba has always been perceived as pro-independence not just playing it as opposition to many military and democratic governments but as the key section of the country that often see ahead in realizing political flaws posed to the Nigeria state and how such will continue to create a cycle of poverty and economic strass to its populace.
If its ever assumable that the Yoruba becomes a country or an autonomous region in Nigeria what will the nation look like?

1. What will geographically define the country

The geographical delination of what may likely form the Oduduwa or Omoluabi will encompass today's states of : (1) Ondo (2) Osun (3) Ekiti (4) Lagos (5) Ogun (6) Oyo (7) Yoruba areas of kwara ( Kogi west senatorial district (9) Akoko Edo areas of Edo State
Within a Nigeria state, the boundary may not exceed that but in a case of an independent country, it will likely cover more; like Edo, Itsekiri areas of Delta( and maybe Urhobo areas as well) Ebira areas of Kogi and may be the Igala in Kogi and can even extent to Tiv if for geographical interests. Limiting it only to Yoruba areas will be like 120,000km square country.If the Yoruba decides to do it alone with their kinsmen, it may be limited to may be the Edo, Itsekiri and kinsmen in Kwara , Kogi and Ebira.


2. What are expected rancours among the groups expected to make up Oduduwa/Omoluabi and how can such be resolved and form a united country
This depends on how the nation intends to be in size. For a small majorly Yoruba country, tribal identity will begin but one thing going for the Yoruba is their historical backgroud as they have been under similar kingdoms of Ife, Oyo and Benin in the last 600years. Another thing is their social integration which has seen tribal lines diminish especially in areas of marriage, religion and business. It will a nation of similar people and people with one focus and values.

I will like to discuss more under the following headings but that shall come later:

3. What is the current economic value and market size of the country
4. What economic blueprint can be
5. What are the sources of income for government and the citizenry
6. What are sustainability plans and growth projections
7. Who are your international allieds and how that can transform into economic gains
8. What will be the country's liabilityand how it can be settled.

I like the fantacy of the op. This is not a bad idea and I think it takes rich imaginations to build a nation. I do not see anything wrong about Biafra imaginations, just like my various posts on this issue, nothing is wriong in agitating for self determination. Infact, i suspect other interested groups are systematically lying as low observers on the trend on Biafra agitations. Also, let me also state that if eventually Biafra becomes realized, the group that will have the ultimate gain may not be the Biafrans.
However op, I was thinking your approach do not show any concrete data, I want to see data on the following:

1. What will geographically define Biafra
2. What are expected rancours among the groups expected to make up Biafra and how you intend to resolve that and form a united country
3. What is the current economic value and market size of the proposed Biafra
4. What economic blueprint do you propose
5. What are the sources of income for government and the citizenry
6. What are sustainability plans and growth projections
7. Who are your international allieds and how do you intend to transform your relationship with them into economic gains
8. What will be the liability Biafra will incur from Nigeria and how do you intend to settle it.


I want you and all on this forum to know that as good as dreams are, its insufficient not to plan and have a profound understanding of what it takes to build a nation, a new nation as that.
Also, you must be able to give clear, unambigious and impressive answer to the following:

9. If as you postulated, the Nigeria state sepate by peaceful means and groups in the Niger Delta opt for their various countries, what Biafra would you build from there?
10. How would you for instance handle possible leadership challenges if you will have to employ the current crop of leaders, who are the likely actors you think will build the dream country
11. If the Igbo becomes the Biafra country or as the largest ethnic group in the country, how do you handle cases of economic vices of your wards that can easily destroy generations.
12. How do you handle unbelievers in your no mosques country?
I await your response

Any organization that want to succeed in the Nigerian consumer markets need to engage Nigerians at the top level. The reason why Nigerians seem to succeed in other economies is that their starting points have always been the fundamentals full of grievious challenges. Consumer tastes, locations and market segments need indepth market research and not just setting up SBUs to impress you are in a new market!
Identifying existing gaps in the economy is fine for business and its of utmost necessity in Nigeria. MTN came into a virgin mobile market and consumers had no choice or may be limited choice in engaging the services of telecomm companies. Shoprite came to fill the gap needed by the rising middle class in shopping experience, what objectives did these companies have and who are they reaching out to?
One of the ways to breakthrough in the Nigerian market is to allow Nigerians run things for you, you come as an elite, yo pack your things back as the money in Nigeria are not where you put your mind. Ask Konga, he said most of his orders come from unusual places with Agege LGA leading!
I WILL ADVISE THEM TO COME BACK, face the situiation, get Nigerians to do stuffs for them and when the economy improves they would have enshrined themselves on our minds. Welcome to Nigeria.

I've culled the meaning of economic viability and wish to appeal to youths on nl to approach serious topics intellectually.This is a thoughtful topic and should be critically examined:
viability means that market operation is sustainable regarding current and projected revenues. The revenues will be greater than or equal to all current and planned expenditures. In simple terms, any project or activity that can financially support itself is economically viable. Using farming as an example, economic viability refers to the ability and capacity of a farm to 'make a living' annually.

Part of the concept of economic viability is the implicit recognition that the enjoyment of ? and effort put into ? a project determines how a project or business grows and how often workers are replaced.

For economic viability to work, it must often span generations. Workers must stay on top of best practices and share that information appropriately. In the farming example, this would include sharing with other farmers in the region as well as the community.

I will like to look at viability based on the balance if production, consumption, market size, incomes, expenditures, current investments, institutional supports(e.g. training availability) and infrastructural developments.
Let me not flog my position with data already mentioned like market size where I will mention cities and metropolitan areas as Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Porthacourt, Kaduna and Abuja.The size of purchasing power is however different as Kano may come last due to poverty gap followed by Kaduna and Ibadan while Lagos, Abuja and Porthacourt are at the top.
Viability in terms of production in terms of industrial output, SMEs, and services sector will see the expansion to include other cities like Sango Otta-Ifo in Ogun state, onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, warri, Akure, Enugu,and Benin Zaria, Jos , Ilorin and calabar.
How much do these cities generate in terms of economic production? In industrial outputs you can obviously put sango otta ahead,while economic outputs of most cities outside Lagos, Ogun, kano, porthacourt and ibadan are largely based on services sectors and trading. The question is for example, compare the industrial outputs of Ibadan, kano, ibadan and onitsha.Also compare their their services sector, trading, the purchasing power of their populations, institutional trainings and workforce sustainability.
if any state were to be a country today what will be the size, volatility, and sustainability of that country?
Today, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers can be given considerations. When oil is not in the equation and when real sector economic activities are involved, I think cities like ibadan, and kano can be very viable because they produce, have institutions, and markets(consumers) but when you bring in trade volumes not considering capital volatility onitsha can come in.

BlaqCoffee109:
Just ask The Holy Ghost...its better you ask for the giver and not the gift..ask for the fruit of the Spirit instead...You may speak in tongue yet not be filled..you may be filled but may not speak in tongue...your gift may manifest in other areas..one body different organs..mouth,feet,hands..you find your place in HIM

Except you are possessed of the spirit of lie, your capacity to speak in tongue is a sign that you have the Holy Spirit just like when you cannot be hurt by poison or by juju.
speaking in tongues is a powerful gift because the devil cannot comprehend the language, its a communication between the speaker and God.
However, there are fake tongues, of d devil of course.Apostle Paul acknowledged he spoke in tongues more than all other Apostles. The tongue empowers, energizes and connect you to the spirit realm, if u don't have this gift, please crave it.God bless u.Jesus is Lord

The spirit of speaking in tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is a gift that edified God.
The only way to have a 'genuine' is by receiving the Spirit Himself.

Taking hold of opprtunities that will fill the economic gap means we must learn to read to broaden our minds. This section isn't an entertainment section but for those who want to learn, do researches and assimmilate some facts. Nairaland should be rebranded to achieve this while hilarious ethnic competitions be consigned to ethnic sections.Please read brother

This piece is a revelation of how much Nigeria need to work on in order to guarranttee development over the next decade:

Lagos and Its Potentials for Economic Growth
02. Jul. 2015
by
Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu and Tamilore Oni

If taken as a country on its own, Lagos would be amongst the largest economies in Africa. It has been able to diversify its economy and to considerably reduce its dependence on oil allocations. But its potentials are still huge if it invested in skilled labour force, reduced its bureaucratic hurdles and adopted an inclusive development approach.

Lagos has a rich history of economic growth and transformation. Although it covers only 0.4th of Nigeria’s territorial land mass, making it the smallest state in the country, it accounts for over 60% of industrial and commercial activities in the nation. Lagos is financially viable, generating over 75% of its revenues independent of federal grants derived from oil revenues. It generates the highest internal revenue of all states in Nigeria. If taken as a country on its own, its 2010 GDP of $80 billion made it the 11th largest economy in Africa. Here, it is important to distinguish between Lagos State and its Metropolitan area. Lagos State is the area defined by the state declaration of 1967 whose boundaries had largely remained the same since the amalgamation; while the Lagos Metropolitan Area consists of the densely populated and extensively built up parts of the state, referred to as “the city” or simply “Lagos” from here on. Today, Lagos has emerged as a major hub for the headquarters of national and global companies and the complex business and professional services that support them. With a population well over 16 million, Lagos is the seventh fastest growing city in the world, and the second largest city in Africa. Lagos is not only becoming a “megacity” in terms of population but it is a global city with a substantial and growing foreign-born population and non-stop flights to hundreds of destinations around the world.

Figure 1: Map showing the 16 local governments in the Lagos Metropolitan Area. Source: Rexparry Sydney, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

While the economy of metropolitan Lagos has enormous competitive assets, it faces challenging trends in rapid population growth, urbanisation, relentless demands for infrastructure as well as macroeconomic pressures from the national level. The city’s expansion is estimated to continue over the next couple of decades. As it is, the economic growth of Lagos – the industrial, financial and commercial nerve centre of the country – has been unable to keep pace with the geometric increase in the population size. And although the city’s internally generated revenue (IGR) is high relative to other Nigerian states, it is not sufficient to meet the increasing social welfare, infrastructural and environmental needs of the city.

Despite these challenges, Lagos has managed to generate revenue from a variety of sources, including manufacturing, transport, construction and wholesale and retail, which together account for a bulk of its GDP. The economic diversification of Lagos contrasts with the larger Nigerian economy which is heavily reliant on profits from the oil and gas industry. The oil sector accounts for 85% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, 14.85% of the nation’s GDP in the first quarter of 2014, and 4% of total employment in the country. Presently, oil prices have dropped to about $60 per barrel in comparison with $110 of June 2014, a scenario which places more pressure on the Lagos economy as citizens migrate from economically distressed states in search of employment and the central government considers new ways to capture more tax revenue from Lagos.

Concerned about the sustainability of Lagos’ economic success in the face of population and infrastructural challenges, its government in December 2014 articulated the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) for 2012-2025. The plan aims to transform Lagos into a model megacity that is productive, secure, sustainable, functional and safe. The main “pillars” of the vision are economic development, infrastructural development, social development, security and sustainable growth. Clearly, how the state supports the development of its manufacturing sector and engages its vast informal economy will determine whether this vision comes to light. The stars are aligned on the political horizon. In the recent general elections, the All Progressive Congress (APC) won at both the Lagos state and national levels. This political alignment has sparked fresh hope for jumpstarting economic and industrial development in Lagos. Such prospects were slim in the last decade in which the Lagos APC government worked against all political odds, constantly in battle with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in power at the national level.

Manufacturing in Lagos – Prospects and Challenges

Manufacturing in Lagos forms a significant part of Nigeria’s economic landscape and could, as the governor of Lagos State recently suggested, propel Nigeria into the manufacturing big leagues along with BRICs countries such as China and India. Metropolitan Lagos accounts for over 53% of manufacturing employment in Nigeria, significantly contributing to the 7% of national GDP constituted by manufacturing. In 2013 manufacturing is estimated to have contributed $35 billion to the national economy.[1] Manufacturing industries in Lagos State include food, beverages and tobacco, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, rubber and foam, cement, plastic products, basic metals and foam, steel and fabricated metal products, pulp and paper products, electrical and electronics, textile manufacturing, furniture and wood products, motor vehicles and miscellaneous assembly.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), indicates that the sub-sectors dominating the manufacturing industry in Lagos are food and beverage, pharmaceutical and automobile assembly. The motor vehicle and miscellaneous industry has seen expansion in the past year with corporations such as Volkswagen of Nigeria, Nissan and the Stallion Group – producing Hyundai – setting up facilities for vehicular and motor parts assembly. More automobile factories such as Tata and Toyota are expected to set up soon. Overall, manufacturing contributes 29.6% of the GDP of the Lagos State.

What opportunities have made industries concentrate in Lagos since the late 1970s? First, its population assures a ready labour pool for production and ready markets for consumption. Also, metropolitan Lagos features relatively superior infrastructure and is strategically located with land, air and sea connections to markets in central and western Africa region, Europe and the rest of Nigeria, easing the flow of both raw materials and processed goods.[2] The high import bill and growing population give room for more locally-produced goods. Assuming that the growing middle class increase consumption, there is room for expansion in all the sectors. Capacity utilisation for the Lagos industrial zone was about 53.85% in the 1st half of 2014, also indicating potential for growth. While these factors support local manufacturing, there are real challenges presented by human capital needs, poor regulatory enforcement, power supply deficits, aging infrastructure, multiple taxation and low industrial productivity. Lagos has a golden chance to deal decisively with these manufacturing sector challenges over the next decade so as to unlock the full potential of the city.

While prospects for economic growth through Lagos manufacturing are promising, the challenges are formidable. Take the regulatory challenge for example. Lagos manufacturers are faced with bureaucratic hurdles in the various standards and charges set by multiple regulatory agencies. Manufacturers in the sector bemoan disruptions to their operations arising from incessant inspection visits, environmental and product audits with hefty charges to manufacturers as well as long delays in product registration and certification. The burden of regulation on manufacturers needs to be eased through streamlining the requirements and interventions of state and federal regulatory agencies. Four distinct agencies regulate the food and beverages manufacturing subsector alone, with scant interagency coordination. They are the NAFDAC (National Food and Drugs Administration and Control), SON (Standards Organization of Nigeria), LASEPA (Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency), NESREA (National Environmental Standards and Regulation Agency). This regulatory maze is problematic in the light of other fundamental problems facing manufacturing in the state.

The manufacturing sector is also faced with higher production costs arising from the spike in input costs of imported raw materials following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent devaluation of the Naira in response to tumbling global oil prices. Manufacturing firms in Lagos, particularly those in food and beverages subsector are reeling hard from this development added on to higher energy costs and challenges of insecurity in the north that has led to a narrowing consumer base. Further the country’s inflation rate has been gradually inching higher, with implications for consumer spending power which will hurt demand for food and beverages. With weak aggregate demand, profits in the food and beverages sector declined sharply between the last quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015.

Fulfilling the Promise of Lagos Manufacturing

Along with managing broader macroeconomic shocks there is scope to improve labour and capital productivity in Lagos manufacturing by investing in upgrading urban infrastructure such as transport facilities, power supply, water supply and waste management facilities. Infrastructure affects the entire process of production – from raw material supply to product distribution. Poor energy supply for example is a major infrastructural challenge that has an immense effect on production output in Lagos. Manufacturers spent an average of N57.72 million monthly to provide alternative sources of energy in the form of diesel or gas generators for production. According to the MAN economic review some manufacturers spent as much as N581.15 million in six months. At the end of 2013, manufacturers in Lagos experienced an average of 6 power outages per day with only about 3.5 hours of electricity per day.

It is crucial to note here that energy supply to homes and businesses is the responsibility of the federal government, and the State Government does not to interfere with this. The Lagos State Government, through its Energy Board agency, embarked on an energy reform strategy and has successfully commissioned five Independent Power Plants (IPPs) over the last five years. Due to power regulations, this energy generated by these IPPs can only be distributed to government agencies, public institutions such as hospitals, and street lights. National level reforms to the power sector have failed to trickle down to local industry. Infrastructural interventions and the exploration of renewable energy options would lead to improved capital productivity in environmentally sensitive ways, and the Lagos’ manufacturing sector would become an engine of inclusive growth and prosperity for the whole country.

Figure 2: Image showing the Peninsula Independent Power Project – the most recently completed Lagos IPP located in Lekki. Source: Lagos Sate Energy Board website..

A lot of small and medium scale industries (SMIs) operate almost totally independent of state-provided infrastructure. For instance, Samuel Toriola, a plantain flour manufacturer who inherited the business from his mother, goes to the wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Ketu to purchase plantains, which he transports to his shop – a privately-run market space in Ogudu – which is about 2km away via wheelbarrow. He dries the plantains on the zinc roof of his stall, and then grinds the dried bits into flour. On rainy days, he cannot dry his goods and is not assured a profit. In this process, Mr Toriola has used the roads, and if available at the time, power supply provided by the state. Provision of serviceable roads, adequate power supply and more mass transit links will do a lot to smooth out supply and distribution routes, and increase the efficiency of production processes. Increased efficiency will lead to an increase in profit. And this profit can be re-invested to acquire better equipment and tools – like electrical driers for the plantain manufacturer – which will lead to more efficiency and again more profit. There is also the issue of funding for manufacturing companies. The average interest rate for loans available to manufacturers from domestic banks is 23%. This is very high and is mostly unavailable to SMIs. The high cost of capital and its inaccessibility plays a large part in driving up production costs and limiting productivity.
Figure 3: Image showing plantain flour manufacturer. Newly purchased plantains can be seen beside dried plantain chips waiting to be processed. (Source: Author’s own).

Currently, Lagos accounts for about 10% of Nigeria’s population which is in excess of 170 million people. Although there is no lack in numbers, there is a definite shortfall with regards to skill levels, and the availability of skilled personnel is important to the expansion of manufacturing. Labour productivity in Lagos manufacturing would benefit from large-scale investment in skills training to enhance managerial roles in industry and build the productivity of machinists, maintenance engineers, welders and other industrial workers. Lagos manufacturers lag behind their global peers in production planning, supply chain management, quality, and maintenance—areas that account to their lower productivity. A recent study found that workers in Nigeria’s urban-oriented manufacturing industries actually have lower productivity than farm workers. This finding contrasts with what happens as economies develop and industrialize – productivity and incomes typically rise in tandem with workers moving out of the farm to take up work in the city.[1]

Much of the city’s largely young population would have to be trained or upskilled to provide the high level human capital required to support economic growth. The LSDP has identified a decisive plan to increase the manufacturing arm of the economy by continued support of skilled education. Human resource will be an important component of implementing this path to increase in revenue through manufacturing. Manufacturing already accounts for 30% of the state’s GDP; but the aim of the Government is to increase this to 40% over the next 10 years.

The manufacturing production value of the Lagos industrial zone was N126.01 billion in the 1st half of 2014. This figure accounts for almost half of the production value for the whole country. This visible source of revenue is somewhat handled as a “cash cow”, and as such, manufacturers in Lagos face multiple taxation. Taxes are paid to the federal as well as to local authorities. Lagos also does not offer much opportunity for physical expansion of manufacturing facilities as it is a very dense city. And even when land is acquired, new owners have to deal with “omo-niles” – people who claim to be original owners of plots of land and demand remuneration. In these ways the socio-economic environment of Lagos has been viewed as “unfriendly” for manufacturing investment and there has been a noticeable shift into other industrial zones especially to the neighbouring Ogun State zone. In the 1st half of 2014, Ogun State saw manufacturing investment of N376.57 billion which accounted for 78% of investments nationally within the same period. Lagos received N43.2 billion.

Table 1: Showing manufacturing production values for industrial zones in Nigeria (Source: MAN Economic Review 2014).

Figure 4: Chart chowing manufacturing production values for industrial zones in Nigeria (Source: Author’s own, figures from MAN Economic Review).

The Way Forward

However, to utilise its enormous potential, Lagos would have to find a way to make the people a part of its economic success story and to find ways to divert from the trajectory of “jobless growth”[1] which would spell social unrest in the context of its massive and mostly young population. With regards to accountability and inclusion, Lagos has a long way to go. There is no conclusive evidence to support that increased IGR has given citizens more leverage in decisions on political governance and social provision. Poverty and social exclusion is a major challenge in the broader Nigerian federation today. Poverty rates range from 16% in the South-West where Lagos is located to 50.2% in the North-East.

The LSDP tells of the government’s commitment to poverty alleviation and the government’s pledge to support SMI and informal sectors to ensure the growth of the GDP. But the pathways for dialogue between the city inhabitants, manufacturers, and the government need to be opened and expanded to sustain economic reforms and bring diverse and often excluded voices of small scale manufacturers and citizens into conversations on industrial policy and implementation. The LSDP has identified strategic governance as a major tool for the implementation of its goals. The question now is how the government will be held accountable, and what sorts of feedback mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the development strategies are efficient. Lagos is headed by a Governor who is supported by local government heads, and an extensive network of ministries, departments, and agencies. Without a feedback system in place, there is a huge resistance in the ability of the city’s inhabitants to hold their government accountable. Looking through the LSDP, there is little regarding engaging with the people or manufacturer groups in the pursuit of economic growth in Lagos, except general government promises to listen to city stakeholders and utilise the House of Assembly to interact with the electorate on issues.

Lagos manufacturers must seize the moment to engage their government towards transforming the manufacturing sector through targeted improvements in labour and capital productivity, physical and virtual infrastructure, industrial rules and regulatory enforcement, access to credit, creating durable platforms for stakeholder engagement as well as favourable tax structures. Government must begin to develop measures that will encourage investors to remain and expand within the territory. Taxation policies need to be reviewed, more aggressive infrastructural provision schemes need to be developed, and funding should be made more accessible to industries of all scales. As Lagos is already the central commercial hub in Nigeria, such incentives will lower the cost of production and enhance its appeal to investors, allowing it to reach its full economic potential.

The combination of growing domestic demand, the concentration of resilient manufacturing industries able to tap into political support at the state and federal levels, offers Lagos product makers a once in a generation opportunity to fully emerge from the shadows of the country’s toxic dependence on the oil and gas sector.

Thanks @op and Rockstar God bless you. The truth is that the Nigerian banking sector has not been impacting the real sector. They were active in forex and public sector funds were available.The question is, is banking business about these in other climes?
This development may pose initial hardship but will refocus our banking industry into doing what they are meant to do that is serve as lenders to the real sector.
Taken that banks may have to begin another round of deposit drive but they will now take risk management seriously and come up with products that will benefits that will benefit entrepreneurs in the country, they will cut down on their director's expenses and make them look into their rates.
This is a welcomed development.

Thanks @op and Rockstar God bless you. The truth is that the Nigerian banking sector has not been impacting the real sector. They were active in forex and public sector funds were available.The question is, is banking business about these in other climes?
This development may pose initial hardship but will refocus our banking industry into doing what they are meant to do that is serve as lenders to the real sector.
Taken that banks may have to begin another round of deposit drive but they will now take risk management seriously and come up with products that will benefits hat will benefit entrepreneurs in the country, they will cut down on their director's expenses and make them look into their rates.
This is a welcomed development.

Francis5:
Correct. The few rich there have modern houses, having pulled down the old ones. There is a place called Akobo in Ibadan, it's all new houses there. But mokola, dugbe, adeoyo, gbagi, molete, sango, ife road, ojoo, sabo, and other places making up 90% of the city landscape are decrepit. I once lived in Ibadan and so I know this.

You lied @Francis. I keep advising younger folks that if you are offered any job of the same amount, chose Ibadan.You will make sense with your life in a few years.
Gbagi, old and new Ife roads, Alakia, Adegbayi all around the airport are not old houses. I once lived there.please don't come here and say things that are untrue. Rate Nigerian cities, how many of them can beat Ibadan? Its one of Nigeria's best.
Just like the op said, the old parts of the city is larger than most cities in Nigeria so also its new parts. I think that city will b next to Lagos economically in the next six years

@Barcanista, you can be the judge. Your best bet was GEJ and you can see the whole world is getting sick of how PDP maimed Nigeria and GEJ buried it!
You should take the case to court and prove with strong evidence.Did the website achieve what it was meant to achieve? Honestly, many of you guys feel Fashola should be crucified for doing his best in Lagos and as a tax payer in this state if users of the,website claimed it helped them in reaching the government I don't know why that should be a headache to anyone. Even if there was the mistake of cost, it doesn't make the governor culpable.
We were all aware of the Boko Haram negotiation scam, would you wholly blame GEJ, common, lets be realistic. If Panadol cannot cure your BRF headache, please seek redress in court. These days, this forum has been reduced to a clown parlor, its intellectual usefulness continue to dwindle.

Taken that Nigeria political landscape is rotten at least that gives President Buhari jobs to do alongside our developmental challenges. To say the least, Fashola represents all the good needed in Nigeria,his vision, foresight and commitment. I think N=78m is too small to compensate him if he were interested, he's a pacesetter in governance in his generation.
Anyone that has anything against him should go to court and those ranting about this should note that Lagos is what is it today because this man worked.
He stated the procedure the contract passed,he's mot an IT person ,if the best recommendation he got was this then what about those civil servants?
If the governor felt the best way he could reach out to the people is through such customized platform that was less than $1 million, and it achieved it in making the best governor whose pain is it, that of those of you that don't pay tax? Am really annoyed with those of you that aren't taxpayers, those that don't live in Lagos who are picking on this gentleman.
You must realize that in a sane country, on performance scale he should be in Aso Rock or heading the advisory council.

Many of Nigerian youths lacks the wisdom of God or may be the fear of God. Jesus said," because you think you are wise you will perish in your ignorance"
The question is, if your children give you cloths it means they are gullible? I believe in being a fool in Christ and succeed in life than being wise in the devil.
If you don't believe giving to men of God or works of God prospers, it won't turn the mind of those who believe, after all, Thomas, Jesus' disciple, doubted, Peter at a point denied him and Judas robbed Him.
The word of God is for those who believe and anyone can chose to be ignorant

If eventually Buhari decides not to contest for the Presidency in 2019 then frontrunners will be:
1. Kwakwansor: He will have EFCC to contend with in the next four years though and if he falls, that is the end.Lamido that can get Obasanjo's nod is already in soup
2. Fashola: He remains Nigeria's best bet, tested and trusted and can win votes from most parts of Nigeria
3. Osinbajo: If Buhari tenure ends well and he get the nod from God. He is a man of the spirit.
4. Tambuwal: stands in good stead until recent happenings at the national assembly, he may never get friendship from SW again.
5. Unknown: may be not in the,limelight now

Thank you @OP. One thread of interest may God bless you.

I agree with you on most states listed but I would have placed Adamawa to replace Kaduna, that state is another Nigeria with varying geographical landscape, cultures and weather.
Thank you all the same

Banks are supposed to be brains behind business successes. Two key areas are providing micro economic funds to SMEs and helping turn around wealth through investments banking. Nigerian banks are failures in these areas but many of them make money through forex, courting politicians and oil lifting all of which are high volatile and negatively impacting the economy.
Am an advocate of community banking that will enable rural populace access funds to tackle farming, promote apprenticeship and help ideas cumulate into testimonies, where are those banks?
Nigerian banks collect funds from the poor and help to fund the rich, who are those bank debtors that killed all the good banks, the rich what about PFAs, these are just avenues of making the rich richer in Nigerian system. Government must evolve real banking system that will fund projects and ideas within the economy, with oil, 160million people we should have the largest bank in Africa

scholes0:
They are an unaffiliated Akoko people who historically had interactions with Yoruba, Edo and Ebira people (Today However, they would describe themselves as Yoruba)
Under the Defoid language family, there are two major groups. The Akokoid group (Arigidi, Erusu, Ese, Oke Agbe, Igashi, Ajowa Etc) and the Yoruboid group (Igala, Yoruba, Itsekiri, Ede Ife, Ede Ketu, Etc) ... I think Ukaan falls under the Akokoid cluster.
The Akoko Area (Ondo and Edo states) is a tower of Babel, where you will find a language in every square mile..... Today, most speak Yoruba.

So to your question, they were historically neither Yoruba nor Edo, but today, They are seen as Yoruba ... sort of.
I think you get it now?

its historically deeper than this. You need to understand the impact of the Oyo empire, not all part of what is now Yoruba land had equal influence of the empire. Those places with deeper influence speaks a variety of dialect that are closer to the capital Oyo but have you thought about the Ilaje, Ekiti, Ijesa, Yagba, Akokos, Owo etc , all these were autonomous kingdoms and Oyo which is the variant dialect spoken today is not the common language of the people.
One thing that is common to all from Yoruba to Edo to Igala, Itsekiri and even ijaw is Ife. All were under ife kingdom and their varieties of dialect have the oldest lexicons of the Yoruba language. The truth also is the mix around Ondo state today, Bini empire had impacts of them as well up to Ekiti , Owo, Ondo and so on. The truth is, Ife, Oyo, Bini have all impacted the entire Yoruba, Edo, Delta, Kogi up to Onitsha.The last 560 years changed the whole landscape, its all a related groups up to Bariba, and Gbagyi

The greatest gain in any disintegrated Nigeria is the Yoruba. They will just stand aloof, allow Igbo do the agitations and fighting, at the point when it all begin to seem real of the possibility they stroll in and make a case that will be too risky for either the East or the North to reject and they will have their country.
Igbo agitation can lead to the restructuring of Nigeria but outright independence I doubt it. If the oil in Niger Delta is the target, then Igbo have no plan because if Nigeria should separate peacefully and offshore blocks are to be divided based on contiguous boundaries you will be shocked by the result.

EUROBOMBER:
All what you wrote up there does not address my analysis in any way, come up something more intelligent then we can go on from there..

Thank you.
In starting or winning a war you need strategic allies, dependable media, and staunch diplomacy. The Niger Delta which should be Igbo closest allied is not assuring you 100% that they will be part of,any Biafra and you need to bring them in but that won't still guarantee you success.There is a new trend in international energy diplomacy as United States seek more freedom to take unilateral decisions on international events without getting hurt by reactions from the Arabs world and possible oil war from Russia.As at today, Shell is planning investing in Iran meaning that Saudi is being checkmated and so prepare for a much lower oil prices. Apart from the oil in the Niger Delta what are your economic target for starting another war?
If you think oil is sufficient, the whole world is trying to wash its hands off dirty oil, sinking money into war in order to secure oilfields isn't that promising like years preceding 2014. The worst thing is several countries now have oil and gas and will simply fill in the gap if there is trouble in Nigeria.
Lets do a couple of scenario analysis; lets say you start another round of war with some reluctant allies in Niger Delta, how so you intend to woo the Yoruba who have natural allies across the border into Benin Republic and can reach out diplomatically? How do carry wealthy Igbos with investments worth billions elsewhere im Nigeria along, what do you intend to do if the Niger Delta groups decide to pull out at critical times?
My brother, lets seek confederation or regionalism, we can have a separate nations within a bigger Nigeria and the Igbo identity can thus be preserved