The Economic Intelligence Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget has organised a roundtable discussion on the 30-year Development Plan being proposed by the present administration.
Speaking at the event held in Protea Hotel, CBD, Alausa, Ikeja, the Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Samuel Egube, reiterated that the roundtable discussion was conceived to preview various contributions received from both private and public sector stakeholders on the ‘Lagos Development Update’.
Egube said the programme would examine the economic outlook for the remaining half of Y2022 and draw recommendations for decision-making that further supports governance for the benefit and collective welfare of all Lagosians.
“The objective of the discussion is aimed at previewing various contributions received from both private and public perspective contributors, who were earlier contracted to provide leading thoughts on ‘Lagos Development Update’ and also to examine what should be the ‘Economic Outlook’ for the remaining half of 2022 while drawing recommendation for insightful decision-making guides to enhance governance in Lagos State”, the Commissioner said.
He posited that population growth and demography change simultaneously in Lagos, appealing that all stakeholders and experts should proffer enabling solutions and wherewithal to confront the challenges ahead as the proposed 30-year development plan is unveiled.
Soliciting the participants’ robust contributions on all necessary economic indices, Egube informed that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had, last month, said the Development Plan to be launched at the forthcoming 9th Economic Summit of the State (known as Ehingbeti) was developed in pursuit of the State’s physical development.
The Commissioner averred that the Lagos State Development Plan Y2022 – Y2052 has been developed with a set of clear objectives to position Lagos on the track to achieving its vision through a thriving economy that will make Lagos a robust, healthy and growing economy with adequate jobs and strategic investments to sustain growth.
Also speaking, the Director, Lagos Economic Intelligence Unit, Mrs. Olayinka Modupe Ojo, appealed to all stakeholders to rally round and proffer useful hints on how the development plan proposal could be achieved with the desired effect and achievement.
In his presentation, Professor Femi Shaibu of the University of Lagos, spoke on the Lagos Development Plan update and forecast, advising Lagosians to desist from using a negative index but to dwell on the prosperity index to sell Lagos to the outside world and investors.
Another speaker at the event, Professor Lanre Olaniyan from the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, dwelt extensively on the economic outlook and development updates, stressing the need for Lagos State to have plausible economic growth data, especially for GDP and associated variables.