Nigeria not worst place to live —Fashola

Posted by admin Headlines, Lagos, State News Monday, October 1st, 2012

The Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend, said the challenges confronting the nation should be seen as building blocks to greater things, calling on the country to take advantage of Africa as the next investment destination to reclaim her pre-eminent status.

He stated that the country was not the worst place to live as being made to believe.

“Let us take the financial issues for instance, the Spanish government raised its taxes by 52 per cent, Italy has raised its tax by 60 per cent. Italians are leaving their country. That is not our position here. People are being struck by earthquakes, tsunami, but we have arable lands for farming here. There are challenges here alright, but they should be seen as building blocks for us to aspire to greater things,” he stated.

Commenting on the state of the nation as it marks 52nd independence anniversary, the governor said the way out of the current situation was for Nigeria to rise and take the lead in reaping the economic benefits of Africa as the next investment generation.

According to him, “the rhetoric on Africa has changed. 10 years ago, I think it was an international magazine which published the screaming headline: ‘Africa, a hopeless continent?’ But today, that rhetoric has changed. The magazine has eaten its words and people across the world have said Africa is the next frontier.”wp_posts