Despite being weighed down by decaying and inadequate infrastructure, Lagos State has made the shortlist of the 25 most innovative cities in the world. Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, made the final cut from an initial pool of 75 cities. The search to pick the world's most innovative city in 2012 is organised by Urban Land Institute (ULI), an authoritative and widely quoted source of objective information on urban planning, growth, and development in the world. The competition is sponsored by Citi Group, with media support from the Wall Street Journal. According to ULI, despite the global financial crisis, each shortlisted city has "maintained innovative mindset, and the capacity to adapt and re-imagine itself."
It's Fashola's performance A statement from the organisers indicates that the effort of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and is team, is the main reason for the state's positive rating. "These 25 cities have stepped up to the challenge - the scale and scope of avenues they have pursued since 2008 exhibit a sustained and growing commitment to development," ULI said.Mr. Fashola has been the state governor since May 2007.
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ULI described Lagos as one of the "Big 5" cities in Africa and projected the city to soon over take Johannesburg as the continent's business hub.
"The city is Nigeria's 'gate to the sea' accounting for 80 per cent of national seaport activity. Lagos GDP is $33 billion (N5 trillion) and accounts for roughly 25 per cent of Nigeria's overall GDP."With 18 million inhabitants, Lagos is the most populated of the 25 cities. The only other African city that made the cut is Cape Town in South Africa. Other cities on the list are London (UK), Shenzhen (China), Medelin (Colombia), Copenhagen (Denmark), Raleigh-Durham (USA), Toronto (Canada), Melbourne (Australia), Bratislavia (Slovakia), Hong Kong, San-Francisco (USA), Chicago (USA) and Berlin (Germany).Completing the list are New York, Shanghai (China), Hamburg (Germany), Atlanta (USA), Tel Aviv (Israel), Boston (USA), Vancouver (Canada), Seattle (USA), Vienna (Austria), Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Singapore. ULI will announce the final shortlist of three on October 25 while the winning city will be announced January 24, 2013. This generous assessment of the city by ULI will certainly cheer the state government. However, many Lagos residents will take it with a pinch of salt. Lagos is notorious for heavy traffics. Residents can spend up to six hours in traffic during rush hour. This they blame on decaying road network and congestion. The government has embarked on road rehabilitation in recent years, but with the absence of a viable mass transit plan, their efforts have been inadequate. Though it is the country's financial hub, Lagos suffers from mass unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and so on.
In April, The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the city as the third worst/least liveable city in the world in its Global Liveability Survey. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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i want fashola to run for presidency come 2015. I am ready to back him all the way. He is too much a good guy, visionary and brave, decisive and courageous. What other leader could Nigeria ask for?
ReplyDeleteI want Fashola too as my president,cos d guy we hav now is not visioinary at all! It a shame dat such person is our president in dis 21st century.
ReplyDeleteSuported, you have spoken well. Will our political jagunt let him run for the presidencY? Cos in these cuntry when we see good visionary and brave leaders we do not let them get there, cos coruption has eating deep into the fabric of the nation.
ReplyDeleteTinubu will rather front himself rather lol
ReplyDeleteEven in some developed countries there are terrible hold-ups, what is so special about Lagos.
ReplyDeleteI love my Governor.
I'm also in support 4 fashola 2 run 4 presidency! & almiqhty God wil uphold him, & if dose corrupt politicians allowd him 2 qt der.
ReplyDeleteI'm also in support 4 fashola 2 run 4 presidency! & almiqhty God wil uphold him, & if dose corrupt politicians allowd him 2 qt der.
ReplyDeleteIn the nigerian context a good guy who can deliver has never been a requirement for the presidency.
ReplyDeleteNigeria is not a one nation state. Fashola has done great and can do better but Nigerians must not imagine him doing 10% as much when elected the president of the country. This will not be because he is incapable but bacause he will be incapacitated. His subjects are mainly yoruba now and yet he faces a stiff challenge from people who share the same culture and origin with him. Despite their criticisms, they cannot call his actions tribalistic as he is one of them. When elected the president, this simpe but largely important factor will dertermine how he will be judged and consequently rated. a high performing individual like Fashola whose performance may be huge will be credited with absolute failure because if his belonging to only one race in the over 200 races in the country. Nigeria is difficult to govern.
ReplyDeleteOk nice piece, and but why spoil it with your very timid and retrogressive criticism? I see Sao Paulo and some other cities noted for bad traffic on the list. Sao Paulo traffic is so bad company executives use choppers for taxis. More so I did not see traffic condition or mass transit system as a criteria for selecting the cities. Meanwhile BRT is one of the most successful city mass transit systems in naija, and so give Gov Fashola some credit. Oh btw, and I'm not a Lagosian oo
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately our political system does not allow the best to become the head. Fashola is not really a politician, but a seasoned administrator. Tinubu worked him to become governor. I am not sure his kind will be able to become president unless some people are willing to work him there . . . like Yaradua was worked there.
ReplyDeleteLong and ever since,i have always been clamouring and craving for the likes of BRF- Babatunde Raji Fashola to become the president of the most populous black nation of the globe.This is a man of great prowess,erudite ruler who is highly revered for his strictness,disciplinarian nature,non-despotic policy and humanitarian virtues.He's been endowed by the Almighty God with the wherewithal for administration and rulership.This is a man whose concept and ideaology of life is reality and positivity.He awesomely believes in chronic positive transformation.I am not God,but if Nigeria amongst the committee of nations is to experience all that it takes to make a better place for living and sheer sanity,let's embrace people like Fashola(BRF),Mimiko(IROKO),Ribadu to turn things around for the best in our beloveth nation,NIGERIA.
ReplyDelete