ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF RIVERS STATE: INDUSTRIALIZATION AND ITS EFFECT ON RESIDENTS.

Consumption of energy products in Nigeria has been reasonably low compared to the volume of produced energy resources in the country. This is so due to government decision to utilize energy resources as a direct source of revenue rather than a source for energy to support industrialization and economic development in the country. As such, low rate of economic development is experienced in Nigeria.

Amongst energy products that are being consumed in Nigeria, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) is majorly used for power generation and industrial machines while Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is majorly used in vehicles for transportation which can also be used as a measure for activeness of her residence.

For the purpose of this paper, Lagos state, Rivers state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are being considered and the comparison is carried out to determine industrialization and its effect on residents.

Table 1 shows consumption volume of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for Abuja(FCT), Lagos state, and Rivers state.

Source: NBS 2017

Table 2 shows the average population for Lagos, Abuja (FCT) and Rivers states. According to world data Atlas, Nigeria population growth rate was at a level of 2.6% in 2016, unchanged from the previous year (2015). Nigeria population census for 2006 as recorded by the National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) is being used to project average population based on the 2.6% annual growth rate for the states in 2016.

Table 2. AVERAGE POPULATION OF STATES AND DEGREE OF CONSUMPTION

Figure 1 describes the consumption of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) between January 2015 and September 2016 for Abuja (FCT), Lagos state and Rivers state. From the trend shown amongst the three states being considered, Lagos state has always been the highest consumer of AGO followed by Rivers state and least being Abuja (FCT). Consumption of AGO is associated with industrialization as it is majorly used for power generation and industrial machines. As such, this translates that amongst the states being considered, Lagos state is most industrialized and Abuja (FCT) is least industrialized.

Figure 1 showing consumption trend of AGO by state.

Figure 2 describes the consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) between January 2015 and September 2016 for Abuja (FCT), Lagos state and Rivers state. From the trend shown for states being considered, Lagos state maintained top in the consumer of PMS followed by Abuja (FCT) then Rivers state the least consumer of PMS. Consumption of PMS is associated with mobility of people, as such has the highest mobility of her residents followed by Abuja and Rivers state having the least mobility of her residence.

Figure 2 showing consumption trend of PMS by state.

In conclusion, it is observed from Table 2 that Lagos state is highly industrialized and income is averagely shared relative to their population strength and mobility of her residence. Rivers state is considered as highly industrialized with the low mobility of her residents relative to her population and average consumption of PMS. Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is observed to have the least population of 1,817,744 residents but has a reasonably high consumption of PMS and low industrialization relative to AGO consumption. Abuja can be termed, home for the elite. The federal government of Nigeria and Rivers state government should look into budget implementation for Rivers state as the residents are not benefiting from her industrialization which means high internally generated revenue (IGR).

Source: KEGOZ

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