Sirjamo:
Investors are scared of the south east because of kidnapping and other criminalities, even as a rich indegen, you would need mopol escorts to visit your parents in that region, not to mention a foreigner. I think security and infrastructure need to be fixed before investors can consider the region.

Your brain is seriously out of place.

cjrane:


Truth is that some people are just always filled with envy and bitter feelings towards anyone they perceive are doing better than them. I love that many diaspora Igbos now see investing in Igboland as something worth doing unlike in the past when they ran away like there were evil spirits in Igboland chasing them away from investing in whatever way. If it's houses some like to build, let them build! I prefer people coming to invest in power generation (Captive power) used for just one city or one industrial complex. Build solar panel factories so that houses and businesses can generate power independent of the grid. But for now the people coming in want to build houses to address the housing crisis.

Our people are gradually seeing the need to have something in their home state than having 200% of their investment outside and not even 1% of their investment at home. Therefore, it is good that some are building at home now. At the minimum, it creates jobs for the youths that will sell the cement, the rods, those that will be brick-layers, carpenters, plumbers etc.

With time, those of them with factories will begin to relocate too. The big disadvantage the SE contends with is lack of power allocated on the national grid to SE. It won't even sustain just the factories in Emene, not to mention Onitsha, Aba and other areas. Therefore, there is need to build industrial clusters with mini-power generating outfits to serve them. This is where the various state governments need to be proactive to get licences for these companies and just ask the private companies to build the infrastructure and manage the selling of electricity to industrial complexes in the zones to help them manufacture competitively.

Excellent thought. I see many people saying that Lagos is the reason why Agbara, Ogun state have higher FDI than every other state. It's partly true but the main reason been shrouded in secrecy is the location of Egbin power station. Since they know Egbin will be fully loaded with industries within the cluster, they built another power station in Osun state that will provide power for Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

So, where am I driving at, the eastern governors have not thought of creating another power station in Imo state where they have a big pipeline carrying gas to the south south and other power stations in the country.

That is why our manufacturers are complaining bitterly that they can only pay salaries. We need better efforts from these governors and they should push for this.

Do we mean there is no solution to the economic situation in the east? Do we mean we cannot save our future by doing the right things. Are we that doomed that we have only resorted to wishful thinking? I can't believe we are saying this.

We a single ethnic group in between 30 ethnic groups where most believe in the oil and gas and the others believe in nothing. We the majority who only believe in human capital cannot drag the market and industries to our domain?

I don't know what you believe in but if your belief still tells you that igbos will have fair treatment in this country in the next 10years, then I am sorry.

They will systematically push us to the extreme before finally pushing us out of the way. We will keep making money, until we will eventually stop.

The only way forward is creating an economic alternative. Expand the economic base of the east and people will come and invest bigger things in it.

horsepower101:


More Chinese people have left china within the last decade than previous decades even though china is rapidly developing. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a developed east with stop igbos from traveling out to go settle and do business in other places.

Please check the colonial records and you will realize that igbos started going to all corners of Nigeria even before independence.

In fact the east was the Fastest developing region at that time as confirmed by international bodies. Yet it didn't stop igbos from going to other parts of the country.

What we need in the east is economic expansion. If more people have reasons invest in the region, there will be lesser people leaving. Even with the increase in economic activities in the east, we need a bigger fdi to make the east have bigger market.

Elfmannisback:

Two yrs!

Seriously? You mean it takes two years from the start to the end?

Please I need a reply ASAP, how long does it take from the submission of your express entry to your actual day of stamping your PR.

So this is the amount keeping Nigerians in abject poverty. This government can mess up.

Africonji and Ariesbull are saying the truth. Igboland has a bigger market than Lagos but it's not a matter of public discourse until we meet in the right meetings.

Like I said earlier, let's call these people and ask them questions. Where are we going? What are we known for?

The problem with our governors is lack of money making skills. The worst of all is their lack of foresight and competitive spirit. They only stay in office to tar road and pay salaries.

Their thinking is the worst I have seen in my entire life.

Cooly100:


Yes, I can see how they are doing well...All your brown roof cesspits are well under 20 in sustainable index...except Ondo.

I don't give a rat Sh*t about PDP.

Please let the Yoruba guy leave the thread peacefully. It's an in-house thread, please.

Look at the thing your brother dated,.

Person go see devil still de friend am.

This thread was a cluster point. We need it to rise again

melodyogonna:

your proposals are all good, this is the type of things our governor's suppose to be discussing in there monthly meetings, I wonder what they do there.
Now, how we make them see things in our perspective? Because I don't think anyone from the government House is reading this thread.
should we start a Twitter campaign?

If it can get to them, let's do it. I am game.

Cooly100:


I heard that work...clearing has commenced on the site for the Lion Business Park industial project...

I hope this will be sustained as it is private oriented.

Please Lord let this be a reality. Biko.

Cooly100:


We don't know what the government are doing with several MOUs signed with investors for industries.

There are several of them like the one signed with a south African firm to develop the coal industry. Why can't the government pick one of them and chase the investors up?

The one in the pic is the biggest yet...signed over over fours years ago.

Sullivan even travelled to China with the current governor for this project.

Why can't they start this one in phases if they lack cash?

You are very correct. If they lack cash, let them start in phases. Borrow money to get your economy back on track. Get things done. Seriously, these guys are not less than annoying.

If we can, we can hold a conference. Let every senator, rep member, governors, state House members, state commissioners come and tell us where we are headed. Let us know who we are following. Let them show us the template of our future.

I know most of do not know the next plan of our governors. We deserve to know, don't you get?

Where una de take us go? Where we de go bros?

asha80:
only February? do you know how many govts since 2003 in the state that has been signing mous on that project?like I said ask those in the know..

They are on ground now. The work is moving very fast. I don't care about them though or their previous government, I only care about igboland. But from what I am seeing there, it's going to be a massive project. They have started seriously.

lastempero:



Our politicians are the major problem bedeviling the east.no clear cut vision or policy to move the region forward.

You are absolutely correct. And most of them will return to their position in 2019.

Nonsense.

DucatiKNG:
Please, don't you guys ever compare any city in Nigeria with Lagos again. Lagos was the capital city of Nigeria for nearly 100 years before it was moved to Abuja. That made it the cynosure of all infrastructural, economic and social investments taking place in the country in those years. It is the foundation that was laid by the colonial leaders and the governments of the early post-colonial governments that Lagos State is currently building on. Enugu never had such massive economic mobilization. It was a mere regional capital. And when you compare it with other former regional capitals like Ibadan, Kaduna and Benin City, it is doing very very well for itself. We are not there yet, but we will get there someday. For now stop comparing Enugu to Lagos. It is like comparing Lagos to London or even Johannesburg. It is good to be optimistic, but to be optimistic, you have to be realistic first.

So, please, never you compare Lagos with Enugu again. It is like comparing two cars that are traveling from Lagos to Onitsha. One of them left by 6 am and the other one left by 10 am and you are expecting them to get to Agbor at the same time! It's not possible! We are not there yet, but we will get there someday. Let us be realistic for once and not always try to sound smart or learned or well-traveled or exposed!

Dubai that started 30years ago, can you compare Lagos to Dubai with Nigeria being a bigger oil producer than them?

I am not comparing but I am only saying we should take a decision today and say we are heading this way in 2018 and beyond and this what we are going to achieve. We don't have any pursuits, we don't have any aspiration. We are just living by the day. Don't u get it?

NonsoWow:
Purehuman which one is Onitsha Mall City again? The days of Anambra settling for less are gone. Have you forgotten that in the good old days before the civil war, Onitsha was the literary/media hub of the entire country? Is it hate or low self esteem that made you suggest mall city for Onitsha as if the city is only about trading? Hope you have not forgotten that the only existing private television station in the south east is located in the Onitsha metropolis.

We are not here to look for eastern best or any of the sort. We are looking for the smartest ways to generate income.

Onitsha market isn't the future bro if we are going to leverage on our comparative advantage. For Pete's sake we are the biggest players in this sector, let us act like one. Let us finally subdue any competitor in this sector. Let us bring everybody to us. With a mall city, everybody will come to Onitsha. Every major event, household materials, gold, diamond, necklaces, consumer goods, electrical and mechanical machines will be solved there. In fact, we will deliver anything you have in mind to you. We can then partner with Alibaba, the Amazon, and other E-market and E-stores to cater for wider needs.

There are too many opportunities we can create if we develop this, I swear to God. I have developed the business plan and it will provide more 2million self paid jobs and create more millionaires in the region. We need to just do it right.

fanficgirl:

Please don't underestimate greenery. I love it!! I appreciate images from the East that doesn' look like a total eyesore unlike alot areas in Nigeria

Have you been to other areas?

How many people have good paying jobs?

Which sector is working in the state?

We should understand that it's only when things are working that the state can provide indirect jobs and bless a normal hustler.

New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Norway, etc are looking for skilled workers, why can't we even delve into this opportunity and develop a bilateral agreement with them that we are going to supply them 500 plumbers yearly, 500 electrical engineers, ,500 nurses, 500 automotive engineers, etc.

We don't seek out opportunities. We just sit at home looking for who to help us.

cjrane:
If you noticed, every house in the picture now has it's own water supply overhead tanks.

Just as the issue of portable water in homes have been solved by the revolution of digging your own boreholes and using water pumps to pump into over head tanks.


Use of Inverters (Household batteries) + Roof-top solar panels = 24 hours constant electricity without buying fuel for generator!


Nigerians must look into making your own power through abundant solar energy we are blessed with, instead of buying generators.
The issue of constant electricity for homes must be solved by revolution of Roof-top solar panels.

Everybody with a private home such as these houses in the picture should strive to invest in roof-top solar panel than buying noisy generators and going through the headache of fueling them every night or staying in darkness because of EEDC palava.

Enugu state government should partner with companies interested in building local solar panel manufacturing factories in Enugu to supply the entire region. These are the types of cutting edge investment the state can help such investors set up smoothly in Enugu to create very good paying jobs.

Solar panels will be the next goldmine for people that are smart enough to find ways to make them very cheap and easily installed on rooftops on buildings.

You see people who are thinking? You see cjrane is also thinking! I don't believe we cannot do anything in this country. I just don't believe the crap.

If you like put all of us in serious debts but build 4 sectors of the economy with the money.

There are simple things that we can make money from but we keep looking for nothing. Always waiting for one white man to come invest. Seriously, we have lazy people in government.

Dremca:
A least the easterners are the most educated people in Nigeria. What we need is a prospective blueprint.

What have we done with being the most educated when we are not using the educated to expand our economy? Just yesterday, igbo doctors from the USA came to Anambra to offer free surgery for those who can't pay for surgery. These doctors if we build a robust system can be used to create a big medical system that will serve Nigeria and Africa.

The problem with these governors is that, they want to have everything in their state not knowing that the east can be richer than Nigeria if each state in the east specializes on 3-4 industries. Just do those things well and let's watch the economy expand.

We are too blinded by the shortcomings of our country that it has made us to stop thinking. With increase in population, different state government will soon start introducing policies that will only cater for their own people and relegating us to the background. They have started, you will soon see it.

We need to act fast, igboland have over 50million people market strong. Bigger than what Lagos can offer within a short time but we keep complaining. The only thing we have better than other people is smartness, let us be smarter than them please.

asha80:
kano economic city is a scam..ask those in the know..

please never underestimate the importance of greenery in an environment..ask those living in some concrete jungle parts of cities in this country

I am not saying the greenery isn't good. But we need a daring economic push. Something that will make us have a working economy.

Moreover, Kano economic city have started their construction in February. It is not a scam. I was there earlier this month. It's a gigantic project, don't say that please.

Afam4eva is a very smart person. Seriously, this is one guy that is speaking a very great amount of sense here.

We have government that only pays salary and repair roads. Nothing daring or smart coming from them. Nothing to look uo to. Lagos is building eko Atlantic, Kano is building Kano economic city, etc. The east is just known to complete the Nigeria state to be 36. We don't offer anything and we are not known for anything.

Who greenery help? Who fine house help? We should tell ourselves the truth. We should choose projects that will make further investments enter the region. We should design our economic template to have meaning.

Seriously, nobody in the east has gotten anything right. Just playing ball in circles.

Afam4eva:

Now we're talking. As much as i think that Nigeria has stunted our progress as a people, i still think we hold our destiny in our hands. Uyo or Calabar may not be anywhere close to Lagos or Abuja but they have carved a niche for themselves. How about we start from there. How about we have governors who would maybe build something in the mold of Tinapa, Obudu or Ibom tropicana. That's what i meant when i said that there's nothing we have that others don't. We even get to the ridiculous level where we celebrate shoprite in Enugu.

If it's tourism, we want to focus on, let;s build the biggest theme park in Nigeria. If it's sports, let's beat the Uyo International stadium by building something better. How about we build big film studios like Donal Duke did in Tinapa. How about we start a carnival and publicize it like the Calabar festival. How about we build a model university that will compete with the best in Africa. Let's just do something, anything.

Man we think alike.

Get 15 projects that's out of this world. Share it within the 5 states. Don't any other thing for us than that, we will take it up from there.

These guys

kmariko:
Gentlemen and ladies, No state in Nigeria is really better or more advanced than the other for the following reasons.

1. No state can lay any claim of having or in the process of developing a basic industry
. :.... Iron and steel
:.......aluminum
:........silicon water foundry
:.......polymers
:........petroleum refinery complex ( what I mean is examplified along the st. Charles -Beaumont-Texas cty-lake Jackson axis)

2. No state has a home grown medical complex with branches all over the state that can treat 90% of diseases in the state.

3. No state can boast of food processing industries ...beyond buying and selling.
4. No state can boast of making any pharma API.
5. No state can boast of any design center or cluster for industrial products.
5. No state can boast of any machining industry
6. No state can boast of providing clean water to all their citizens.
7 No state provides free quality education for their indigenes.

Providing pancakes to cover the uglines does not solve the problem..

What to do..

1. Examine everything you have in your state and leverage upon it.

In the case of Enugu

Coal
Clay
Iron ore.
Limestone.

If you have a smart government that can leverage on just 2 of the above mentioned minerals..Enugu your state will be the Pittsburgh or chengdu of Nigeria.

8

The truth is, we live in a lazy continent and we just do one thing right, we will have reduced unemployment rate by 95% and generate billions of dollars in revenue. But what do we have, people who just want to repair roads and pay salaries.

I am moved to create a thread on this but I feel we will have more outsiders commenting on it than we discussing on these issues.

There seems to be no problem and there seems to be nothing happening. It is very good that the east is presently peaceful by recording the least violent deaths this year. We can applaud ourselves by embracing real hustles and shove violence at the way side.

The truth still lingers, what is the direction we igbos are moving. Are we trying to become Africa biggest manufacturers of consumer goods or we are moving the automotive industry forward. Are we trying to solve to the health issues destroying lives in Africa or we are offering the biggest IT solutions to the world now.

There is a need to live a purpose driven life. This makes us important and not taken as persona nongrata in this emerging world. We are in the century where the thing you offer, the things you produce, the service you render or the solution you generate makes you stand out than what you have under the soil. Singapore, India, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, etc are becoming emerging nations today because they have a mission. They know where they want to go.

The continuous chest beating about being the best in WAEC or JAMB shouldn't be what we should be chanting at this stage of our lives. The question we should ask ourselves, what is the use of this present educational system to we igbos? To me, it's nonsensical and not necessary for the igboland we need to build. Education should be used to solve problems and not to look for jobs. We should generate an educational template that when a person graduate from any discipline, he will see himself as someone who is ready to solve a problem. Education shouldn't be wasted on first class or second class, it should be used to change the status quo of our people. We need to think about changing the style of our education.

The east have one the worst government infrastructures. Seriously, there are structures that are not needed and some offices in the government House can still offer this same service as those structures. If we want to build structures and infrastructures, let us build economic infrastructures. Turn Onitsha market to something much more like Onitsha mall city. Whereby, it will serve as the Dubai of Africa. We can achieve these feat within 30years. We don't have any place in the east that has the outlook of a business district like the wall street. It is the way you dress, that's the way you will be addressed. Let us package ourselves to be able to draw bigger investors to us and we can do bigger businesses.

We just need 10 big infrastructures and we will have a different story.

1. Onitsha Mall City
2. Nnewi Automotive Industry
3. Enugu Medical City
4. Art and Entertainment city, Owerri.
5. ABA Industrial Hub.
6. Ebonyi FCMG hub
7. Enugu ICT city
8. Re-organized Educational programs with stronger polytechnics and more robust practical courses.
9. Redesigning Housing estates to cater for subsistent businesses and provide immediate needs.
10. Very smart transport system that can open at least 4 cluster points in every state.

I am open for correction and additions

Thank you.

Cooly100:


Now with this wide expanse of roads, can the government encourage developers to start building high rise close to the roads....?

...then mark the roads and plant trees...

Enugu could be like Kigali...

When can we get another Sullivan Chime...as governor?

Very true.

InyinyaAgbaOku:
Enugu has got a bit of everything though we need a global recognition in one or two aspect.
Enugu has many industries in Emene as well as 9th Mile.
It also has its axe to grind in hospitality and entertainment.

Anybody saying Enugu has got no purpose is a liar.

On the issue of land and it's affordability, I think you guys are only talking of high brow areas. There is no part of the world where such areas don't exist.
The areas around Awkwunanaw, Emene and Enugu suburbs have very cheap lands, you can't be expecting those lands at GRA, independence layout, etc to be 1million a plot. Lands at one day area are at #5-6 million. Those buying the lands at highbrow areas are big Bizmen residing in thr east and then our politicians.
Our brothers in the diaspora aren't left out.

In conclusion, given the good environment, Enugu will do well in service industries bothering on health, information technology, music and nollywood, and Education. I will like a Harvard in Enugu

To say the truth, the region isn't known for anything. It's the people that are known for something. Enugu or Imo is not solving Africa's problem, it's just another African city who depends chiefly on the centre for almost everything.

The African continent is faced with a lot of loopholes that if we get it right and be the biggest servicers and providers of such things, we get the international recognition and the world body will use us to service Africa.

Like Onitsha market which used to be the biggest market in West Africa have now turned to a local standard market. We could have built on reputation and create bigger structures that can serve the whole continent plus as a tourist site.

We are not getting it right in the east from a collective point. We are getting it right from personal point. Like we hustle hard, try to make money and do things but for the future, we have not built for tomorrow. No system that can sustain us in the next couple of years.

We are not looking at it but we keep moving in circles.

0monnak0da:
You work together by taunting people? By talking about the Biafra war? That is how to work together? Spare us the hypocrisy.

You folk are waiting to see the humiliaation of those who you continue to bear ancient grudges against. What is the point of this thread? Is it to "work together"

You are hated for your BAD MOUTH. Aways bitter, always spiteful and nasty .

I have studied you long enough to know that this bad mouth is the same way Eboes relate to each other and so they don't get it when other people do not find it funny.

The number one problem is atotal lack of interactional skills and so you just talk anyhow.

Since 1970, it is our bad mouth that has cost the nation this misfortune right?.

Who from the igbo lineage have caused Nigeria bad with bad mouth apart from Nnamdi kanu? You leave someone who is stealing and attack who is singing.

Nigerians ehn.