Let me share something truly fascinating with you all. In the first half of 2023, 10,180 Nigerians packed their bags and moved to Canada. Meanwhile right here in Nigeria, the Lebanese community is joyfully celebrating a milestone, their population has now crossed the 75,000 strong, and that is not all – China’s vibrant spirit is alive, as over 40,000 individuals from there have decided to call Nigeria home.

This has got me thinking – What extraordinary opportunities are our friends from Lebanese and China seeing in Nigeria, that perhaps some of us haven’t noticed?

Let us engage in a stimulating conversation

(1) What practical measures and strategy would you as the Subnational Leader be considering and applying to see that your people better have access to the economic and business growth opportunities that would create and promote better business environment, job creation, access to credit , available and steady power supply, Gas supply for the industries, Technical and entrepreneurial skills promotion, etcetera – in order to promote prosperity, better quality of life, and steady and continuous growth of the State/National GDP?

(2) What is your Ease of Doing Business promotion strategy – and how will you promote business enterprise development in your State?

(3) How would you attract more businesses to your State to create employments, increased revenues through taxes and levies to the State, as well stimulate vibrancy and deepen the State economy?

(4) What would be your plan to attract Foreign Direct investments FDIs, Capital Transfers and Portfolio investments to your State, in order to grow and increase the Gross Capital Formation of your State, and attract and retain skills and talents in your State?

(5) What is your Energy and Power plan and strategy of implementation, with verifiable timelines?

(6) How would you attract and retain bouyant enterprises and organisations to your State, especially in the critical areas of agriculture, agribusiness and food supply, Information and Communication Technology, Power Generation and Supply, Technical Skills and Professional Education, etcetera.

(7) How would you provide the educational support base to grow and sustain your local economy, to cater for the size of your population, providing the technical and professional support base for the industries and corporate organisations, to attract more investments and businesses to the State, and to grow a vibrant and growing local economy.

(8) What is your magic wand to curtail and solve your State unemployment challenge, poverty, access to good education, healthcare, housing and security of life and properties.

(9) Etcetera.

•TO BE CONTINUED. The first part of this series entitled “Hot questions for governors as off-season elections draw close”, was published on Aug 22, 2023. Dr Nwaodu Lawrence, a Development Economist, writes from Owerri, Imo State.

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