http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/nigeria-state-governments-need-to-tap-into-huge-investment-opportunities-in-europe-expert/Nigeria State Governments Need To Tap Into Huge Investment Opportunities In Europe - Expert 

A Netherlands-based consultant expert and business strategist, Mr Pim Visser has urged Nigeria state Governments to look beyond federal allocation as well as Internal Generated Revenue (IGP) in the provisions of infrastructures for their state. 

Speaking on a Twitter conversation programme, conducted by a non profit group, @FixDeltastate with hashtag #Deltasolutionfinder, Mr. Pim said it is pertinent for state governments to start harnessing the huge opportunity in Europe by engaging investors in the development of their States. 

Responding to series of questions under the hashtag #Deltasolutionfinder, monitored by BigPen Online on Friday, Pim asserted that many companies and investors are ready to partner states with lofty ideas that can better the needs of their people. 

Responding to a tweet by public commentator and journalist, Joe Ogbodu @Donseph in this regard, Pim said "Look beyond federal allocation and the internally generated revenue. They can look to investments in Europe". 

Specifically, he said that many companies in Europe are waiting to partner with States like Delta provided the government come out with a people-oriented ideas. 

According to him, such partnership besides shoring up the state’s revenue drive, it would bring about huge Foreign Exchange, Forex in terms of revenue generation for the state. 

Besides, he said there are also Europe funds that can be accessed by Delta State Government to help improve the lives of the ordinary people.

Pim maintained that the idea behind Public-Private Partnership, (PPPs) was to create a win-win situation for all parties using a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) as a guide to achieving the goal, and not a venture that should plug the state into deficit. 

According to him, states can only be plugged into huge debt if the parties to such PPPs agreements are not sincere saying that the PPPs model well monitored in good faith ends well. 

He maintained that PPPs is the best model for Delta State adding that PPPs would enable the state government to invest less money but guarantee their equity with other means. 

"Responding to a tweet @midasnonso, Pim said; "It is (PPPs) the best way for any government to engage the private sector and guarantee their investments. 

"Public Private Partnership is the best model used in most countries since the financial crisis", he said. 

Pim said that state like Delta should limit their PPPs agreements to State projects because of encumbrances from the federal, saying that with federal projects on PPPs you will be faced with bureaucracy and tight legal laws which will slow the process. 

According to him, federal government allocations which accrued to states each monthly should however be used for capital projects and Internally Generated Revenue be used to run recurrent expenditures. 

Answering questions tweeted by a Public Affairs Analyst, Adeyemi Bowale @adeyemibowale, he said that no state in the country would be able to survive with federal allocation saying; "in principle you cannot completely run Delta without FG allocations because the country rely on crude oil for revenue". 

Responding to tweets by duo of Alabo Roland, @Roland_speaks, and @GreatOwete, Pim said; "No State can exist by depending on Federal allocation alone. Delta State must seek ways to generate revenue through taxes and investment adding however "I have seen terrible pictures on the internet showing bad infrastructures. It's a shame when Delta is an oil producing State". 

He also spoke on how youths could be engaged/empowered saying that with the internet age the government can engage the youths in marketing/promotional activities about the State. 

Responding to questions by Justice Fortune @justicechigozi4, Mr. Pim reiterated that government at all level can engaged the youths to monitor projects on behalf of government and access their quality completion. 

"Government must identify policies geared towards youths and invest in them through international cooperation", he said, adding that government can also use the social media and workshop by civil society, NGO to educate the youths on their rights and benefit of governance. 

Particularly, he said an office should be created with the mandate to look into the challenges faced by youths and what should be their role in governance, adding that statistics of youths in education should be collated by designated officers who would also managed job opportunities/unemployment rates of youths in the state. 

***BigPen Online