adamsmith914:
Most cities that experience war are always the most developed, blame yourselves, you abandoned ship & ran to other states in Nigeria. You have no idea the amount of money The Federal Government spent in its RRR for reconstruction of Eastern Nigeria after the war.

The major money spent on the east after the war was rebuilding the Niger bridge and building Army barracks and police stations.

Former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Akpabio once confronted Gowon about it in public. Akpabio asked Gowon why he never spent the RRR money promised to former Eastern region rather most new federal expenditure went to Lagos then later to Abuja.

horsepower102:


The reason why I struggle with your list of excuses is that If you compare the pictures of some Nigerian cities (that never experienced war) to their present day condition, you will be shocked to the bone that not much has changed.

The excuses that you are stating above don't explain this fundamental problem.

Look at Bogota in Columbia and see how it went from a decaying slum to where it is today. Columbia's economy was not doing well during that time period. Yet they were still able to transform Bogota.

1.Bogota is the capital city of Colombia. Apples and Oranges again. (Abuja looks very nice, but I would be wrong to use it to judge the rest of Nigeria). Plus many parts of Colombia are very very poor. (see image below)

2.So, saying that Nigeria needs to change from a resource dependent nation to an industrial nation is an excuse? Well, it isn't, it is a criticism of this APC government who promised diversification and have gotten nowhere on it.It is also a criticiism on their poor efforts to raise IGR..so that we can be less debt dependent. It is also the reason why most African countries are poor.

Some years ago, Ghana earned 2 billion dollars from selling some cocoa. A company in the UK used some of that cocoa to make products worth 17 billion dollars.

We love phones tire...yet up till today, there is no phone manufacturing and assembly plant in this country, nor are we making phones for the rest of Africa.

It isn't excuse...it is stating the fact that we are poor because we are not industrial enough. And so far this government has been doing nothing about it.

PROUDIGBO:
After looking at the present state of countries and city-states we were better than in 1960 (like South-Korea, Dubai and Singapore), any Nigerian (Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Itshekiri, Ijaw, Igala, etc) that isn’t filled with shame, anger and frustration at our lot in present day ‘one Nigeria’....something is definitely wrong with such a person!

This is the main reason I opened this thread. The thing really shocks me whenever I think about it.

horsepower102:


The reason why I struggle with your list of excuses is that If you compare the pictures of some Nigerian cities (that never experienced war) to their present day condition, you will be shocked to the bone that not much has changed.

The excuses that you are stating above don't explain this fundamental problem.

Look at Bogota in Columbia and see how it went from a decaying slum to where it is today. Columbia's economy was not doing well during that time period. Yet they were still able to transform Bogota.

Those countries grew in the 90s ,which was the period Nigeria was most stagnated,you guys don't know how stagnated Nigeria was in the 90s,Nigeria was the poorest country in the world in the 90s our economy overall was in shambles.The northern military system almost destroyed Nigeria completely

babasolution:

Those countries grew in the 90s ,which was the period Nigeria was most stagnated,you guys don't know how stagnated Nigeria was in the 90s,Nigeria was the poorest country in the world in the 90s our economy overall was in shambles.The northern military system almost destroyed Nigeria completely

But ok But what's the excuse since 2000s? Its has been 22 years and yet when you compare a lot of Nigerian cities from the 90s, not much change has occurred. I travel around sometimes because of the nature of my hustle. I know what I am saying.

backbencher:


1.Bogota is the capital city of Colombia. Apples and Oranges again. (Abuja looks very nice, but I would be wrong to use it to judge the rest of Nigeria). Plus many parts of Colombia are very very poor. (see image below)

2.So, saying that Nigeria needs to change from a resource dependent nation to an industrial nation is an excuse? Well, it isn't, it is a criticism of this APC government who promised diversification and have gotten nowhere on it.It is also a criticiism on their poor efforts to raise IGR..so that we can be less debt dependent. It is also the reason why most African countries are poor.

Some years ago, Ghana earned 2 billion dollars from selling some cocoa. A company in the UK used some of that cocoa to make products worth 17 billion dollars.

We love phones tire...yet up till today, there is no phone manufacturing and assembly plant in this country, nor are we making phones for the rest of Africa.

It isn't excuse...it is stating the fact that we are poor because we are not industrial enough. And so far this government has been doing nothing about it.

Ok I am not totally disagreeing with you. I actually agree with a lot of the points that you raise but there is more to it.

The reason why i really struggle accepting your point fully is because Nigeria has made over $600 billion in oil revenue since the 70's. Are you telling me that it wasnt enough and that we must diversity and manufacture in order finally begin to modernize our cities.

If $600 billion isnt enough to develop a country like Nigeria and its cities, then we should all just give up.

The war made Igbo people to understand that they have more enemies than friends in Nigeria thus their quest for success.

But to others, they think hating Igbo will make them better but they ended up having their wishes for Igbo nation.

They don't want to develop and leave the east struggling on their own as they do now so that it won't be too obvious to the rest of the world that the Igbos are being marginalised. Cunny man die, cunny man bury matter dey here so.

Igbodicool:
The war made Igbo people to understand that they have more enemies than friends in Nigeria thus their quest for success.

But to others, they think hating Igbo will make them better but they ended up having their wishes for Igbo nation.

The war forced Igbos to adopt a survivalist mentality because Igbos understood that nothing is ever coming from the Federal Government.

It motivated them to use the little resources that they had after the war to rebuild their cities. I have seen pictures and videos of Owerri, Onitsha, Aba, and Enugu after the war. The devastation was shocking.

Unlike Germany and Japan that received and benefited from reconstruction money, The Igbos didn't get a dime.

This is why I wonder why those whose cities were left intact still struggle with development.

adamsmith914:
Most cities that experience war are always the most developed, blame yourselves, you abandoned ship & ran to other states in Nigeria. You have no idea the amount of money The Federal Government spent in its RRR for reconstruction of Eastern Nigeria after the war.

shut da Bleep up mehn RRR reconstruction name one or close ur mouth 4 ever

LILTJAY:
take your trash to the bin.. you hate others, they hate you back and you start crying.
I have been On nairaland since 2007 to know this

Your post says all that needs to be said about you! You’re deluded, misinformed, loopy and daft!

Igbos have borne the hate of some other ethnicities in Nigeria since the 50s to date and have shed blood, lost countless number of kinsfolk, been marginalised in federal governance and had their territory stolen as a consequence! Now you tell me, besides the ‘hate’ you reckon Ndigbo dish out on nairaland, how we have practicalised this hate towards others...and mention the ‘victims’!

I feel we need to stand up straight to some of this bad policies we have just today i saw a ship of about 90 roasting why we have no system we have no judicial which work effectively the only work after election when the oppose is challenging the winner that when it work effectively because money will be shared among themselves we are so bleeped up badly

On the side of igbos we need more industries like crazy industries and higher raising building i think in the next 5years Anambra will start seeing skyscrapers based on massive population growth,Abia too with industries spring up but bad roads network is another issue in East,we serious Double road network in Anambra and Abia state mostly Aba, we need to start paying tax states should make laws that permit them to collect tax and also have state police network i feel east can lead by example the five eastern states should agree on having a seaport base that will spead up super development trust me with the airports and seaport in Eastern states in the next 10years with or without government massive employment and growth will be seen

horsepower102:


But ok But what's the excuse since 2000s? Its has been 22 years and yet when you compare a lot of Nigerian cities from the 90s, not much change has occurred. I travel around sometimes because of the nature of my hustle. I know what I am saying.

Nigerias growth even in the 2000s as not been so great,Nigeria as been in economic quamire since the 70s

horsepower102:


But ok But what's the excuse since 2000s? Its has been 22 years and yet when you compare a lot of Nigerian cities from the 90s, not much change has occurred. I travel around sometimes because of the nature of my hustle. I know what I am saying.

Mention the cities without much changes?

forgiveness:



Mention the cities without much changes?

No need to mention specific cities. They are abundant for you to verify for yourself. Just look at any city that wasn’t destroyed during the civil war and see if much progress has been made.

Then we can compare them to their mates in other parts of the world and you will realize the level of underdevelopment I am talking about.

horsepower102:


No need to mention specific cities. They are abundant for you to verify for yourself. Just look at any city that wasn’t destroyed during the civil war and see if much progress has been made.

Then we can compare them to their mates in other parts of the world and you will realize the level of underdevelopment I am talking about.

Most of the cities not destroyed by the war are still far more developed than the cities destroyed by the war.

horsepower102:


Ok I am not totally disagreeing with you. I actually agree with a lot of the points that you raise but there is more to it.

The reason why i really struggle accepting your point fully is because Nigeria has made over $600 billion in oil revenue since the 70's. Are you telling me that it wasnt enough and that we must diversity and manufacture in order finally begin to modernize our cities.

If $600 billion isnt enough to develop a country like Nigeria and its cities, then we should all just give up.

If we weren't resource dependent but industrial dependent it would have been far far more than 600 billion we would have been making

forgiveness:



Most of the cities not destroyed by the war are still far more developed than the cities destroyed by the war.

That’s not the main point. The main point is that they are still grossly underdeveloped when compared to other cities around the world. Why is that so? Is been over 50 years and they are not much better than they were in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

backbencher:


If we weren't resource dependent but industrial dependent it would have been far far more than 600 billion we would have been making

There are countries that haven’t tasted 10% of that $600 billion that Nigeria has yet have better looking cities with better infrastructures. This your excuse of industries doesn’t cut it for me.

Go to Kenya and Tanzania and see their cities. I am not talking of their capitals.

Even Zimbabwe has better looking cities.

horsepower102:


That’s not the main point. The main point is that they are still grossly underdeveloped when compared to other cities around the world. Why is that so? Is been over 50 years and they are not much better than they were in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Who told you not much have developed in Lagos, Ikeja, Lekki, Abuja, P/H, Ibadan after the war?

Are you kidding me?

forgiveness:


Who told you not much have developed in Lagos, Ikeja, Lekki, Abuja, P/H, Ibadan after the war?

Are you kidding me?

I was just waiting for someone to mention Lagos. Only certain parts of Lagos is developed. Like 10-15% and when I refer to those parts as developed, I am talking of west African standard.

Abuja has more development because it was built from scratch. Yet still lacking a lot when compared to so many cities in modern times.

Anything else mentioned out of the above two is not an honest opinion.

horsepower102:


I was just waiting for someone to mention Lagos. Only certain parts of Lagos is developed. Like 10-15% and when I refer to those parts as developed, I am talking of west African standard.

Abuja has more development because it was built from scratch. Yet still lacking a lot when compared to so many cities in modern times.

Anything else mentioned out of the above two is not an honest opinion.

Oga! I didn’t only mention Lagos. I mention Ikeja and Lekki in Lagos State. And I also mentioned P/H and Ibadan.

horsepower102:


I was just waiting for someone to mention Lagos. Only certain parts of Lagos is developed. Like 10-15% and when I refer to those parts as developed, I am talking of west African standard.

Abuja has more development because it was built from scratch. Yet still lacking a lot when compared to so many cities in modern times.

Anything else mentioned out of the above two is not an honest opinion.

What is lacking in Abuja? Skyscrapers?

Op you must take into account population, Nigeria spends alot on subsidies to cushion prices on its teeming population, most of these cities you comparing Nigeria with have populations not near Nigeria,to be 7th most populous country is not moi moi,Nigeria has a huge wage bill,less money for infrastructure

forgiveness:


What is lacking in Abuja? Skyscrapers?

Water supply and water treatment facilities
Modern drainage network all around the city
Fiber optics
Road markings
Waste disposal and management
Intracity rail network
A proper downtown and business district
24/7 electricity
Fire hydrant in major neighborhoods

And so many other things Abuja is missing

babasolution:
Op you must take into account population, Nigeria spends alot on subsidies to cushion prices on its teeming population, most of these cities you comparing Nigeria with have populations not near Nigeria,to be 7th most populous country is not moi moi,Nigeria has a huge wage bill,less money for infrastructure

But even at that, it’s not a good excuse for Nigeria not to have more modern looking cities outside of some parts of Lagos and Abuja.

The truth is that a lot of Nigerians are comfortable in their underdevelopment. If you come back in another 50 years, you will be shocked that not much development has happened despite all the years that have gone by.

backbencher:
Well

1.OP you are comparing other cities capitals to your average Nigerian city..you should know that a capital is the showpiece.

2The reason why all Nigerian cities are underdeveloped is simple....we don't pay the taxes to make them developed. We are a resource dependent nation with a low GDP. Expecting us to be like Singapore with a GDP per capita of 60000 usd, while Nigeria is at 2400 usd. is like expecting miracles.

3.Instead of saying my city is better than yours, agitate for things like council taxes so that we can have better cities, and also vote in the right leaders.

Nigerian cities are all a mess, and we are doing nothing to make them better. All Nigerian cities.

4.Most Nigerians don't want to be like Singapore. You guys don't want to be industrial. You all want to fight over how money is shared at the center.

I pay taxes- paye, vat etc. Nigerians are paying taxes.

babasolution:
Nigeria had a period from about the late 80s to early 2000s about 30yrs of no growth,economic repression,things were stagnant,imagine no development for 30yrs,that's what caused the underdevelopment of Nigeria cities I think

Totally correct �

horsepower102:
The Nigerian-Biafran civil war was one of the most destructive wars fought on African soil. The level of destruction that happened to eastern cities specifically those of igbos was tremendous.

Yet despite this destruction, so many cities in Nigeria didn’t experience a single bullet. One would expect those cities to be far more developed today.

But traveling around Nigeria, it’s quite shocking to see some cities in this 21st century.

The First 2 pictures are From Rwanda and Namibia

The last 2 pictures are what Singapore looked like in the 60s and 70s.

The Igbos can be excused because of the hand that they have been dealt with BUT What is the excuse for those who never experienced war?

Development must be deliberate and intentional

joyandfaith:


I pay taxes- paye, vat etc. Nigerians are paying taxes.

I also pay taxes, paye, vat, etc...

But

1. Overall, as a country, our tax to gdp ratio is 6.1% . That's lower than even Niger (15%) , Ghana (24%) South Africa (23%) , the USA (33%), France (45%) and Denmark (46%). Then GDP is also very low. (We got called out over our low tax to gdp ratio by the World Bank some time ago. Plus the APC government ran on poor tax revenues in 2015, and Fowler was made FIRS head so that he could fix the problem...and we ended up going from 5.8 to 6.1%).

2.60% of Nigerians don't pay taxes to the federal coffers because they work in the informal sector.