An ex-Nigerian diplomat and former Director-General of the Braced Commission, Joe Keshi, has claimed that no state government in Nigeria has executed industrial projects since 2019.
Keshi made this known during the Sunday Politics programme aired on Channels Television on Sunday, July 16, 2023, where he spoke to the planned disbursement of N8,000 to 12 million Nigerian households by the Tinubu-led administration as palliatives to cushion the effect of the recent subsidy removal.
“Since 2019, I do not know any state government that has built an industry, that has created employment. It’s all road projects..,” Keshi said while speaking on the need for the newly elected state governors to shift their focus from only road projects to other critical aspects of the economy.
Claim: No state government has executed industrial projects since 2019
Verification
The CDD War Room examined the claim’s veracity and here is what we found.
In February 2019, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, launched two aircraft to inaugurate operations for Ibom Air, the state’s newly established commercial airline. The development was reported by multiple credible news media as can be seen here, here, and here.
Also in May 2023, Udom Emmanuel commissioned Dakkada Tomato Paste Factory at Dakkada Cottage Industries, Itam, Akwa Ibom state. Other industrial projects executed in Akwa Ibom between 2015 and 2023 can be seen here.
In January 2023, under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos state government launched the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Imota Rice Mill.
In February 2023, the first commercial flight landed at the newly constructed Gateway Agro Cargo International Airport in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, marking the launch of the cargo airport by the Dapo Abiodun-led administration.
Verdict: Inaccurate
The claim that no state government has executed industrial projects since 2019 is inaccurate. The CDD War Room has verified the execution of multiple industrial projects by more than two state governments between the years 2019 and 2023.
Leave a Reply