What Is The Economic Benefit Of President Buhari’s 2 Days Visit To Lagos

By Muyiwa Olayinka

President Buhari arrived in Lagos on Thursday, March 29th, to begin a two day working visit. This is the first time he will be visiting Lagos, the commercial city of Nigeria, in an official capacity, since when he was sworn in 2015.

President Buhari was initially scheduled to visit Lagos in May 2016, but the visit was cancelled as a result of medical reason. He was later to be flown abroad to seek medical attention in England.

His Vice, Prof Osinbajo stood in for him at the commissioning of several projects completed by Lagos State Government (LASG).

To make this visit memorable and hitch free,, the chief host, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode left nothing to chance. He declared a public holiday on Thursday . Various security organizations such as the Nigerian police, the state’s LASTMA, and other relevant organs were mobilised to provide security and monitor traffic. Many major roads were blocked for the VIP movement.

Though alternative routes were provided but this blockage of major roads caused untold hardships to Lagos residents. The President was received at the presidential wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport by Governor Ambode and his top government functionaries

While in Lagos, President Buhari undertook these tasks according to his itinerary released to the public.

He attended the colloquium to mark the 66th birthday of the national leader of the ruling party, APC. There he met with all other politicians at the Eko Hotels and Suites Victoria island.

He visited the ongoing construction at the Eko Atlantic City Victoria Island and;
lastly he commissioned the Ikeja bus terminal at Ikeja
The Lagos state government held a banquet dinner for him to round up his visit
He left Lagos for Abuja on Friday

But during his stay, the economic activities were paralyzed and almost grounded to a halt. Some economists questioned the economic benefits of President Buhari’s two day official to the state, in view of millions of Naira spent to host him.

One is yet to see any economic benefits of Mr President’s visit.

Otherwise, Lagos state lost billions of Naira for one day that was declared a public holiday by LASG. It is rather ludicrous that at this jet age, economy of a state that is contributing about 45% to the national coffers could be completely shut down because of Mr President’s visit.
Lagos state is the fifth largest economy in Africa and I have not heard of any major cities of the world like Algiers, New York, London, Johannesburg or Kigali being shut down for Presidential visits.

Lagosians went through harrowing experiences from the two days’ visit. Many had to trek long distances to get to various destinations. It is more incongruous that among all the projects commissioned by the President, not a single.project was undertaken by the federal government.

The Ikeja bus terminal was financed and constructed by the LASG, while the Atlantic city project was conceptualized-by his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan

In many speeches delivered by Mr President, they were more of political statements rather than economic. He didn’t make mention of a single project committed or slated for Lagos state by the federal government . An uneducated man that I had conversation with, out of frustration, said the President came to commission an ordinary bus park!
I couldn’t agree less with the man

The visit is more political to prepare his re election and that of his party, APC for the general election in 2019. He came to have political meetings with his political associates. Commissioning of unimportant projects is just a smokescreen to cover the main intention.
It is about time Nigerian electorates begin to ask poignant questions from their elected leaders. We are not supposed to be taken for a ride again. Taxpayers money must be judiciously spent for productive sector rather political jamborees.

Politicians are always jostling for political spaces and to feather their political interests, to the detriment of the electorate and overall interest of the nation