Lagos stopped being the capital of Nigeria thirty-three years ago in 1991, yet today, Lagos’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP is more than double what it was in 1991. Lagos is responsible for 30% of Nigeria’s GDP, though it accounts for less than 10% of our population.
Please face-check me: In 1991, Nigeria’s total GDP was $59.53 billion, and Lagos was responsible for only 10% of that. Today, the GDP of Lagos is $108 billion. Lagos’s economy grew faster than the national economy after it stopped being the federal capital. Think about that.
If Lagos was progressing economically because it was the federal capital, as some people who claim to have ‘developed’ Lagos posit, then why is Abuja not competing with Lagos in terms of contribution to the economy? After all, it had been the capital for thirty-three years.
Rivers, Edo, and other states also have ports. Why are they not like Lagos?
Lagos is progressing because of leadership, not because it is a former federal capital or hosts a port. Without good leadership, Lagos would be just like any other state that has a port.
For example, in these times when oil income is dwindling and states are struggling, Lagos is not complaining. Instead, they are building cutting-edge technology.
They just commissioned the Red Line metro railways to add to the already existing Blue Line, and they are preparing for the Green line. Their public infrastructure does not depend on PHCN. Lagos built and operates six functional Independent Power Projects that powers their infrastructure and utilities.
Lagos has been paying ₦70,000 minimum wage since February, and they built their own port and Free Trade Zone and are now about to build their airport.
So, stop making excuses for your state and putting all the blame on President Tinubu and the Federal Government. You should be thanking Tinubu for making more money available to your state government.
Before subsidy removal, Nasarawa was receiving ₦4.3 billion monthly. After subsidy removal, Nasarawa is receiving ₦12.3 billion monthly. Enugu’s monthly allocation went from ₦3.4 billion to ₦6.7 billion.
Anambra State is receiving almost 70% more revenue under Tinubu than under Abacha. Ditto for many other states.
This year, the thirty six states are projected to receive ₦5.6 trillion. Last year, they got ₦3.3 trillion. And their wage bill has not increased. It remains the same. In addition to this, their Internally Generated Revenue has also increased. Their VAT revenue has also risen.
So tell me, why should you be facing economic hardship when your Governor receives double the allocation he used to receive? Leave Tinubu alone for a minute and ask your Governor to learn from Lagos and bring development to the grassroots.
Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.
