The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI) have commenced the Lagos state government on its economic development plan which is expected to commence this year and ends in 2052.
The duo, who spoke at the 2022 Ehingbeti Pre-summit stakeholders engagement, in Lagos recently, noted that, the 30-year Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) (2022-2052), to be launched at 2022 Ehingbeti in October, will reposition the economy of Lagos and makes it the top best city in Africa
The senior economic advisor, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), Amarakoon Bandara, stated that, Lagos is unique for commerce and business and was happy with the progress being made by businesses of members of UN in the state.
Bandara promised technical and financial supports where necessary to realise the high ambition of the future of Lagos, especially, the realisation of the 30-year Lagos development plan.
While commending the efforts of the past and present Lagos state government executives for their foresightedness and contribution to the development of the state, the president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI), Asiwaju Michael Olawale-Cole, noted that, the 30-year development agenda is a nice concept.
He said, having previously participated actively in the economic masterplan of how Lagos is and should be, offered his support as well as his chamber to ensure that the right business operating environment is created for businesses to thrive.
To him, it is only when the operating environment is good and condusive that businesses can thrive, hence, promising moral and technical supports to the government to ensure this is realisable.
For the Lagos Development plan to be active, he suggested that young people, who themselves are the future, must be given prominent roles to play toward realisation of a mega city that the state is projecting.
“We must make sure it is inclusive of young people. Let us get the young people included because they are the ones that will drive Lagos of the future,” he pointed out.
Earlier, the commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget, Sam Egube, had said, Ehingbeti 2022 has three main objectives, one of which is the introduction of the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2022-2052.
Egube, who is also the chairman of the Lagos Economic Summit Group, noted that, the plan, to be unveiled at the upcoming Lagos Economic summit, is an all-encompassing master plan which clearly articulates initiatives that will drive Lagos’ ambition to become Africa’s Model Mega City, a Global, Economic and Financial Hub that is Safe, Secure, Functional and Productive.
While the summit, according to him, will engage high-powered speakers and thought leaders on the strategic dimensions and focus areas of the LSDP 2052, he added that, the platform will also provide opportunities for engagement with the audience, even as the LSDP 2052 will be formally launched at the event.
Expecting the Summit to reconfirm Lagos’ vision to become Africa’s Model Mega City, a Global, Economic and Financial Hub that is Safe, Secure, Functional and Productive, he believes this event will equally kick-off the communication process on the LSDP’s strategic dimensions and objectives, including, details on the initiatives supporting these objectives.
On the major achievements from past Summits, Egube listed them to include; the Rail Project (Blue and Red Lines), BRT Project, wider participation and stakeholder collaboration, Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme/Agric Youth Initiative, Lagos Home Ownership Scheme, Improvement of Water Transportation, even as IPPs (Akute, Island I & II, and Alausa) are operational and two more (Peninsula and Mainland).
Ikoyi link Bridge, Establishment of Rice Mill in Imota, 47 per cent increase in agric allocation between 2011 and 2013, among others, he highlighted as achievements from the previous summits.
He disclosed that, out of 206 resolutions taken from Ehingbeti since its inception over 20 years ago, Lagos state government has implemented 193 of them, translating to over 95 per cent success rate.
These recommendations from Ehingbeti, he added, have helped the Lagos State government to focus on areas that concern the citizens, investors, and businesses with positive results achieved.
To him, “the Ehingbeti Economic Summit has been the convening of advocates, passionate about the emergence of the most vibrant, diverse, competitive and inclusive African mega city. Lagos Ehingbeti brings together Local and foreign private sector; technocrats; Government representatives; Civil society; Academia; Multilateral and development organisations.
“They gather to discuss about the pertinent issues that affects the growth of Lagos State, Nigeria, and decide on the necessary pathway to achieve the desired outcome for Lagosians and provide progressive leadership for the nation.”
The Lagos Economic Summit (EHINGBETI), which, he said, dates back to 2000, was borne out of the strong desire by the state government to accelerate economic growth and development of Lagos, and that, it is now firmly established as a credible forum for the stimulation of economic growth in Lagos State.
From its early stages, the Summit has been an avenue for the private sector to evaluate the implementation of key initiatives that were agreed as resolutions at the various summits, he pointed out.
Similarly, at the event, co-chair, technical committee, Solape Hammond, had called for support and cooperation of the private sector in various engagements during the summit, adding that, “we ask you to champion this,support it with your heart, with your intellect, with your finances and with your presence.”
