The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola has stated that Nigerians must re-order their thinking from that of managers of foreign capital to that of builders of a new local capital that will become her armour against poverty and want.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Lagos Economic Summit with the theme: “From BRICS to BRINCS: Lagos Holds the Key”, the governor warned that the country has no irrevocable pact with poverty or unemployment.

“It is my hope that this summit will re-awaken the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of our local people to participate more actively, to invest more faithfully, and to venture more bravely into the sectors of Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing which represent our pathway from BRIC to BRINCS”, he said.

Mr Fashola noted that, going by the theme of Ehingbeti 2012, which seeks to ensure that Nigeria joins the league of developing economies; Lagos State desires a status that will be fully representative of the high human developmental indices that Nigeria would have recorded.

He added that the quest for Nigeria to move from BRICS TO BRINCS should not be seen as one seeking a mere status akin to having a chieftaincy title or a honourary doctorate degree.

The governor added that it will do no good for Nigeria to be a BRINCS member and still be battling with polio or still be battling with water supply, stating that with that quest, the state government has signed on to is a collective quest for hard work which demands that Nigerians work their way to the prosperity they desire.

“We do not intend to go it alone, but we are convinced that because we have the benefit of what is essentially the Nigerian nation as represented by our small landscape, Lagos truly holds the key if Nigeria must move from BRICS to BRINCS”.

Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and AbiolaAajimobi of Oyo states, called for closer economic, infrastructural and social integration with their sister state saying the move will ensure the survival of the entire south west region and country.