Reuben Abati, former Special Adviser on media and publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has recommended agriculture as the main panacea to Nigerian economic woes, saying agriculture that leads to industrialization remains solution a crude oil-based Nigerian economy.
Abati, who delivered a lead lecture at 2015 Press Week of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council in Abeokuta on Monday, disclosed that it would be more beneficial and profitable for Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to a cue and sustain ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s investment and policy on agriculture.
Speaking in a lecture tagged, “Media and Economic Renaissance”, the former special adviser on media and publicity, explained that the economic realities which the country undergoes at present, coupled with the achievements of President Jonathan and Akinwunmi Adesina, former Minister of Agriculture on agriculture and agricultural value chain growth and development, President Buhari should make use of the template on ground and replace them unnecessarily.
He said, ”I expect the present administration would lay emphasis on agriculture because agriculture is the major employer of labour and if we are talking about diversification of the economy, we cannot do without agriculture.
“One of the things that came out of President Jonathan’s administration is not just about agriculture in the aspect of producing commodity, it is agriculture that leads to industrialisation change, agriculture along a value chain change.
”The Jonathan’s administration was highly praised, the minister that was there has been well acknowledged and today he is the President of African Development Bank (AfDB) that is a commendation for both the efforts of the Jonathan’s administration and personal dynamism of Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.”
RAZAQ AYINLA
