As Nigeria marks its 64th independence anniversary, an oil and gas expert, Engineer Yakubu Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer of White Page International Concept Limited (WPIC) has decried stunted economic growth the country has witnessed and called for programmes that could help the nation pull back from the brinks.
In a statement in Abuja, while congratulating the nation on its 64 years anniversary, Mohammed said that the 64th anniversaryof the country’s independence “offers us the opportunity to rethink and do a retrospect of the direction the country is slanting to. It gives us the great privilege to re-examine ourselves to know where we got it wrong in our 64 years journey as a sovereign nation and to be bold enough to make a detour, if necessary.”
According to him, Nigeria deserves the best and Nigerians are angling for the best, “which I believe will not be far-fetched with the dedicated commitment of all citizens.”
He said that Nigerians are resilient people, who could withstand any situation. “What an average Nigerian need is an enabling environment by the government. This include, conducive working environment, good roads for easy movement and smooth transportation of agricultural products, adequate security of life and property, flexible fiscal and monetary policy that will not stifle the SMEs and petty traders and most importantly, reasonable pricing of petroleum products which is the life-wire of the economy of the nation,” he said.
Mohammed further stated that “in finding a lasting solution to the multi-faceted problem bedeviling the nation, there is need to promote transparency, accountability and good governance by the leaders, adding: “Combating corruption, investing in quality education, reducing over dependency on oil, stimulating agricultural and industrial growth, encouraging SMEs, developing critical infrastructure, improving healthcare facilities both at the primary and tertiary level, tackling insecurity headlong, as well as opening up for international collaboration remains the panacea for the Nigeria of our collective aspiration.”
While elaborating on how Nigeria got to where it is now despite being endowed with rich and enormous mineral resources, Engineer Mohammed explained: “Our stunted growth as a nation is manifested in the main source of our economy which is the petroleum sector. In the past, we were refining our crude oil; our refineries were working, serving our domestic purpose. When the down-turn occurred, the refineries suddenly stopped working and we started importing refined products, which hitherto was alien to us. This was happening when other oil producing nations like us are building more refineries both for their local consumption and for export to earn foreign exchange.
“Apart from building refineries, those countries were also building petrochemical industries to harness the full benefit of crude oil, while Nigeria as a nation seemed exceptional in this value chain.”
He said that with proper planning and redirection of our focus, the situation can be remedied for value added economic indices for the country.
“As a strong advocate for the unity of the country, a country can only prosper and develop when there is togetherness and unity of purpose. If we decide to shun ethnicity and religion in our politics, make political positions less attractive, build a strong and workable electoral system and elevate the constitution above every Nigerian, we will attract good leaders,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of White Page stated that most countries that gained independence within the same period as Nigeria had gone far ahead in all ramifications.
He said: “For a country like Singapore that we share several homogenous economic statistics, they have moved far ahead of us in economic and political development, earning a first world status. The case of Malaysia is not different.
“Nigeria and Malaysia, both plural societies, share both federal and democratic status. Moving ahead, Malaysia has been able to solve its cultural, religious and economic challenges.
“Coming back to Africa, it is even more disheartening comparing Nigeria, with countries like South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana that got their independence within the same period or even much later.”
He said that at 64, Nigeria should take necessary steps that will enhance the country’s greatness.
According to him, “the recent pronouncement by the President through the Federal Executive Council for the approval of the Economic Stabilisation Bills where it entails amending the income tax laws, promoting the export of goods and services, reforming the exchange rate regime, both federal and state government collaborating to suspend certain taxes on small businesses and vulnerable populations, as well as unlocking the foreign exchange liquidity, is a commendable move by the government towards the economic growth of the nation.”
He tasked the political class and the elite to work for peace, lasting unity and to create avenues for sincere reconciliation among the various ethnic groups.
He also called on the citizens to use the opportunity of the country’s independence anniversary to look inwards towards harnessing the great potentials of the country.