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Bayelsa State deputy governor, RAdm. John Jonah, has identified lack of proper planning and poor execution as the bane of Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020.
The deputy governor made this known to members of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) led by the president, Lekwa Ezutah, who visited him at his office in Yanagoa.
Jonah said though the Vision 20:2020 document was intact and full of promises for the country, poor execution of its contents made its unrealistic.
According to him, only proper planning and detailed execution of the Vision 20:2020 will emplace Nigeria among the top 20 economies in the world.
He said: “If you see the document, you won’t have any problem. But the execution is a problem at the end of the day. When you transplant the execution to other people in another country, they will excel.
“Not that those in Nigerian universities are not good; they study here and excel outside. The country has not been able to accommodate ideas.”
Jonah commended NITP for choosing Bayelsa as venue for its national convention, saying proper planning would bring about order in the society.
Earlier, Ezutah had commended the Bayelsa government for establishing Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Tribunal, describing the decision as a testimony that the administration appreciated the purpose of town planning and its positive role in enhancing the quality of life.
“We encourage the administration to continue with its investment in physical planning and development, the product of which is livable settlements that attract investors. Investment in physical planning and development therefore translates to good dividends of democracy,” he added.
