Princewill Odidi|3 September 2017
Some call it Smart thinking, I call it taking advantage. In a country like Nigeria, as a state governor, learn to take advantage of our weakness whenever you conceptualize development. Akpabio built one of the best stadiums in Nigeria. Today, Abuja National stadium which was world grade has become a grazing field for cattle. Lagos state stadium is home to area boys.
What next, our national games are now held in Uyo. Beginning Monday this week, sports fanatics started trooping to Uyo, all flights fully booked, people drove in from Porthacourt Onitsha and ABA, game ends in the evening all the hotels in Uyo and environs fully booked, hospitality is booming, restaurants are selling as people are eating, provision stores are selling drinks, Taxi drivers are busy, in summary the city is busy.
Plus or minus, today's game will attract nothing less than 500 million Naira into Uyo local economy if you calculate spendings associated with this game in various sectors.
If nigeria has an efficient sales tax system, it is in situations like these that the state government makes a lot of money.
State governments that would succeed going forward are those spending on projects that can generate returns on investments taking advantage on the flaws of our delivery system and Capital projects managements.
To what extent is Tinapa, Convention Center, the Monorail and the Ranch adding value to our domestic economy or are they extra drain pipes from our lean resources?
As we plan ahead with new projects, are we building because others are building projects and it sounds sweet in the ears or are we looking around for development concepts that can be described as taking advantage of the situation?
Development is smart thinking. We can re conceptualize all our existing projects and convert them to what I will call " taking advantage" if the leadership decides to. Political will is expedient here.
Princewill Odidi
Is a Social Commentator, writes from Atlanta
