Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto) has called on the Federal Government to increase investments in agriculture, solid minerals, tourism and infrastructure to pull the nation out of economic recession.
Wamakko, the former Governor of Sokoto State, who made the call in Sokoto on Monday also averred that the topmost priority sector should be agriculture.
“If we want to truly diversify our economy and move out of the current recession, there must be investments in three fundamental areas,” Wamakko said.
Wamakko, who represents the Sokoto Central Senatorial District, said that with increased investments in agriculture, we will truly diversify the economy and reduce the heavy dependence on crude oil.
”With agriculture we can create more jobs, fight crimes and curb the perennial menace of rural-urban drift.
”In the same vein, the nation’s food security would be sustainably guaranteed, for Nigeria to become a major exporter of food and not a net importer.”
Wamakko, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, further advocated increased investments to tap the nation’s abundant solid and mineral resources.
According to him, all the states of the federation have their comparative advantages in this direction.
” There are abundant solid minerals across Nigeria which are yet to be fully explored and exploited.
”Therefore, as a way out of economic recession, they should be fully harnessed to create more jobs,wealth, as well as fight corruption.
”It is only an idle man that thinks of committing crimes,as such, our youths must be made more productive,” he said.
Wamakko also sought for more investments in the country’s abundant tourism potential in the bid to holistically diversify the economy.
The senator noted that Nigeria had plausible lessons to learn from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in this direction.
”Many countries are using tourism in very positive ways to generate revenue and to create more employmentf,” he said.
Wamakko called for massive investments in infrastructural development in the country to create more jobs and curb poverty.
BRM/AFA