Expert hinges economic, industrial growth woes on inconsistent planning

AN economist, Prof. Simeon Oludiran Akinleye, has called for consistency in planning to enable Nigeria to accelerate its industrial growth and economic potential.

Akinleye, a professor of Economics at the University of Lagos ( UNILAG), gave the advice, yesterday, during the 19th yearly Adekunle Kukoyimemorial lecture organised by Nigerian Institution of Surveyors ( NIS), Lagos State branch, with the topic: "Going Somewhere from Everywhere: Going Somewhere From Somewhere. The Unending search for economic development in Nigeria."

The expert, while x- raying Nigeria's development plans since pre- Independence era to the present, concluded that development plans and policies had not been marched with implementations. According to him, accelerated industrialisation will at best be a pipe dream unless proper and consistent steps are taken with political will to implement them.

Akinleye said Nigeria lacks development despite its advantage of huge population compared with other African countries, noting that the country needs to live up to its claim as the giant of Africa.

The university donmade reference to the country's Gross Domestic Product ( GDP), saying when compared to Egypt and South Africa, with lesser population, has not helped the quest for development despite the lofty goals put in place.

Akinleye, who also identified inadequate infrastructure, population growth and urbanisation challenges, poor stakeholders’ engagement and global economic indices as militating factors against the nation's development, urged the current leaders in the country not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

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