Civil Society Group Tasks FG to Begin Economic Diversification for Growth, Devt

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The federal government of Nigeria has been urged to begin the economic diversification into the peculiar sectors easily accessible and affordable for growth and development of the country.
The Amnesty International, AI, Kogi State Chapter, made this call in a chat with journalists in Lokoja yesterday.

The state coordinator of the Amnesty International, Comrade Sunday Jatto, explained that Nigerians need to show certain level of patriotism, creative thinking and good vision to always support the country at most appropriate time.

Jatto highlighted some of the critical areas where diversification could ignite  economic prosperity for the country,  for  instance; tourism, agriculture, mining, herbal medicine and human-resource developments where the youth can be sent to various advanced countries to acquire technical and practical trainings, just the way China,  India, Malaysia and some other countries in Asia continent did in the recent time.

According to him, “Tourism is a business that can never be liquidated because it goes with history, culture, tradition, arts and entertainments, international relations and civilization, it brings global unity and commerce between countries.

“Nigeria has a lot to gain from tourism, but unfortunately the previous administrations were found not doing enough to harness tourism potentials and developments in Nigeria. Whereas tourism could generate more income for government than purported oil sector.

“For example, the pilgrims to Israel and Saudi Arabia are seventy five percent (75%) tourism inclined where every individual will have to pay an estimate of ten millions Naira (10,000,000) for a journey of two or three weeks only, then when will other people from other part  of the world will begin to pay the same huge amount of money into Nigeria treasury for the purpose of tourism attractions.

“With security (food security), agriculture provides means for foods and raw material productions to run industries both home and abroad. One can begin to ask why the groundnut pyramids suddenly disappeared from Northern part of Nigeria?
“Why cocoa and coffee businesses die down in Western part of Nigeria? And why palm oil production failures in Eastern part of Nigeria?
“The Nigerian economy, according to records, was the first to reckon with in yester years when agricultural businesses were properly booming or running. Unfortunately, corruption and terrorism has driven agriculture to backseat or to nadir regardless all available opportunities in the area of agricultural sector to tap from.

“Whereas Nigeria should have been making lots of income from agriculture especially this era of possible Climate change, where many countries could be having challenges in the areas of food security and possible distress in industrialization’s aspect due to lack of raw materials.

“And Nigeria can begin to be helpful, playing vital roles In the center of food supplies and raw materials to resuscitate# other foreign industries from liquidations, the coordinated stated.