Anambra Rated Very High In GDP In Nigeria, Grown By 40 Percent Says Minister

 The Supervisory Minister of National Planning Commission and Minister of State for Works,  His Excellency, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda yesterday said Anambra State’s Gross Domestic Product – GDP has grown from 735.80b Billion Naira in 2009 to 1.005 trillion Naira in 2011, representing about forty percent growth.

Yuguda commended Anambra State for what he called the impressive rise in her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and noted that Anambra’s GDP was growing better than those of some African and Caribbean countries.

Speaking while presenting the Pilot Survey Findings on the State GDP to the members of the State Executive Council at the Governor’s Lodge, Yuguda attributed the phenomenal rise to purposeful leadership of Governor Peter Obi and viability and efficient implementation of the Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy – ANIDS.

 The Nation reports that the Pilot Survey Scheme was conducted by the National Planning Commission in collaboration with the National Bureau of statistics in seven States selected from the six geo-political zones and is being implemented in two phases to be completed by December 2014. 

 Ambassador Yuguda said data were generated from Agriculture, Industry and other services using production and income approaches, with Agriculture recording thirty percent, industry four percent and service sector sixty-six percent.

The Minister assured that they would commence immediate updating of the State GDP to capture the numerous achievements recorded since 2010 when the last study was conducted and would be presented before the end of the Governor’s tenure.

The Statistician General of the Federation, Mr. Yemi Kale said the State was one of the top most developed and advanced States on Education in the country.  Mr. Kale enjoined the State to take advantage of the huge opportunity in small and medium enterprises potential to improve internally generated revenue.

Responding, Governor Obi said the State had moved a lot higher from the period of study in 2010 as it had achieved a lot in various sectors.  He explained that a lot of direct foreign investments by multi-national cooperation had been recorded in the State since 2012 while industrial growth had recorded an upsurge.  The Governor noted that the State had the highest number of bank branches after Lagos and Abuja which he said was an indication of viable economic growth while Anamrba remained the only state that has not borrowed in the country.  He observed that the rating of the State of the State in the pilot survey was a strong statement of the status of the State in the country.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Oseloka Obaze said the State ranked very high in Direct foreign investment.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Chinyere Okunna said the result of the pilot study would among other things enhance future planning and deployment of resources as the state was data based.  Prof. Okunna stressed the need for updating of the study to capture the remarkable comprehensive development of all sectors since 2011.

Caption for the Pictures

Gov. Peter Obi (right), with  the Supervisory Minister of National Planning Commission and Minister of State for Works,  His Excellency, Ambassador Bashir yuguda (left), who was in Anambra State for the  presentation of  the Pilot Survey Findings on the State GDP to the members of the State Executive Council at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia,  yesterday. PHOTO BY ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU

Gov. Peter Obi (left), with  the Supervisory Minister of National Planning Commission and Minister of State for Works,  His Excellency, Ambassador Bashir yuguda (right),  presenting   the Pilot Survey Findings on the State GDP to the members of the State Executive Council at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia,  yesterday. PHOTO BY ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU