A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF INDUSTRIALIZATION IN AKWA IBOM STATE ( Part 1).

Emmanuel Eneyo, Uyo.

Industrialization in Akwa Ibom State is a nascent venture, which can be described as not being ingrained in the roots of profitable economies, hence the sickly conditions of the industrial programmes enunciated and established by the state government.

The above statement is hinged on the premise of the misdirection of investments apparently on low yielding industries in the state. This is further corroborated by the fact that state boasts of humongous natural resources as patroleum, limestone, clay, natural gas, salt, coal, and glass sand. The state also claims amongst other agricultural resources the largest palm forest in Nigeria, cocoa, rubber, livestock, poultry, fisheries.

However surprisingly, none of the industrial programmes in the state is directed towards the utilization of these massive resources and churning them into useful export products, which would subsequently provide the state with huge revenues and influx of investments from beyond the area.

The afore-stated analysis contradicts the principal of comparative cost advantage, which is the blueprint of industrial activities in especially developing countries with limited technology.
It is also a show of abuse of the state's industrial potentials and equally, the reaction of potential investors in the industrial activities of the state.

Furthermore, the lackluster Industrialization strides by the government is not conspicuously enough to curb the menace of unemployment especially among the teeming population of the youths.