President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has tasked Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to support the new federal government’s policy to fully industrialise
the nation’s economy as the panacea towards eradicating unemployment and general economic malaise.
Senator Mark specifically requested Nigerian professionals in the diaspora to avail the nation of their expertise and experience to realize the dream ” because industrialization is critical to economic development if Nigeria would achieve her ambition of becoming one of the most developed economies in the world by the year 2020″.
Addressing Nigerians in London, United Kingdom at the second Ibibio (Akwa Ibom state) second summit at the weekend, senator Mark pointed out that the nation has had chequered history of industrialization since independent adding ” our industrial sector has experienced uncertain and difficult times and has been incapacitated by several factors which includes energy crisis, excessive import dependence as well as lack of clear strategy for areas where we have competitive and comparative advantages” .
Represented by the the chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang ,he appreciated the President Goodluck Jonathan’s new approach towards industrialization which necessitated the constitution of Professor Mike Kwanashe led committee to among other things identify factors militating against the implementation of previous industrial policies and formulate sector specific policies based on areas where the country has comparative and competitive advantages among others.
The initiative Senator Mark assured that the resultant industrial policy will go along way in fast-tracking Nigeria’s march to industrialization.
He added: ” it will ensure specific interventions in the areas of industrial and infrastructural development , innovation and technology, improves business environment with appropriate technologies as well as skills acquisition for our youths”.
Another notable effort towards industrialization, senator Mark listed as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which the federal government signed with Global Biofuels limited, an indigenous bio-fuel producer, for the construction of 15 integrated bio-fuel plants in the country.
The project he anticipates would create 120,000 direct and 750,000 indirect jobs across the value chain,link 15 states to cheap bio-fuel generated electricity at 30 megawatts per state.
The President of the Senate believes that full industrialization of the nation’s economy is achievable within the next two decades if all Nigerians- professionals at home and in diaspora, politicians, business men and women commits to industrial development”.
