Lagos, Gauteng Province Have Capacity To Drive Africa’s Economy – Ambode

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode says that Lagos State and South Africa’s Province of Gauteng both possess the capacity to drive the desired industrial and economic growth in the African continent.

Governor Ambode stated this on Wednesday while addressing reporters shortly after meeting with the Premier of the Province of Gauteng, Mr. David Makhura, on a possible partnership to advance trade and industrialisation.

He disclosed plans by the Lagos State government to enter into a bilateral relationship with the Province of Gauteng, aimed at boosting the economic capacities of not just Nigeria and South Africa, but the African continent.

The governor described both city-states as the economic powerhouse of their countries, adding that it would be a win-win situation that would grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to benefit the people of both countries.

He said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed in Johannesburg, South Africa by September 2017, stressing that the benefits of the partnership on the long run cannot be over-emphasised.

“The essence of this relationship is that between the Province of Gauteng and the State of Lagos, we actually have the powerhouse of commerce and the economy of the two countries. So you can imagine a relationship that strives to bring that economic comparative advantage bloc force into a synergy.

“So, that’s where our focus is; the powerhouse in South Africa and the powerhouse in Nigeria coming together to now do something instructive and also constructive to the benefit of their own people. That’s the framework with which that MOU will be driven,” Ambode said.

On his part, the Premier of Gauteng, Mr. David Makhura, expressed optimism that the partnership would enhance the industrial capacity of Nigeria and South Africa.

He noted that it was high time for both Lagos and Gauteng Province to rise to the challenge and utilise their strengths for the benefit of the continent.

“One of the important areas of the economy that we would focus is mainly manufacturing. Africa has to manufacture goods for Africans and we have rich natural resources in our continent, both in South Africa and Nigeria.

“The State of Lagos and the Province of Gauteng would like to build on our experiences and how we can enhance industrial capacity, including building advanced manufacturing capabilities of our continent,” Makhura said.