*Tasks Nigerians to develop export market
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde on Monday, said it is time for the Federal Government to fix Nigeria’s economy by implementing reforms to jumpstart the economy and prevent further deterioration.
Governor Makinde expressed this while speaking at the opening of Oyo State International Trade Fair (EXPOYO) 2024, held at the EXPOYO Ground, Sango Ibadan.
According to Engr Makinde, the poor state of the economy has sent shockwaves throughout Nigeria, with many people fearing that the situation is even worse than imagined, hence the need for
Nigerians to focus on developing the export market to attract foreign investment to turn around Nigeria’s economic fortunes.
The governor stressed that the strategy would create new jobs, attract foreign exchange and help to diversify the economy, saying
implementing these reforms would not be easy and would require a significant effort from all stakeholders.
The governor said there is the need for a commitment to “thinking outside the box” and making difficult decisions to move the country forward as well as creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
“This is a tough period for us as a country. Economically, things are not going fine, but this is not the time to give up. This is the time for us to look at opportunities, because anytime there are challenges, opportunities also abound”, he said.
Engr Makinde added, ” For us in Oyo State, we will not give up. It’s time for us as a country to change our orientation. We are not interested only in things that we will consume locally in Oyo State, export of our essential needs are needed”.
” We need to build our export orientation. What we produce here and sell to the world and earn necessary foreign exchange so that naira and dollar will be at per. We must develop our export market, we must attract foreigners and in the years to come, this exhibition will become truly international.”
The governor stressed that the challenges facing the nation’s economy ranges from rising inflation to a weakening currency, and called for decisive measures to address these issues, adding, ” This is not the time to start trading blames, this is the time to roll up our sleeves, bring people on and let us repair our economy so that we can take our people from poverty to prosperity”.
Governor Makinde then promised that the trade fair will henceforth be an annual event with foreigners present at the next edition, while noting that his administration is committed to changing the Nigerians orientation on export substitution.
Oyo state Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Chief Ademola Ojo while speaking assured that the state government would do everything within its capacity to ensure that the Fair becomes an annual event.
The President of Oyo State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agricultural Dr. Daniel Gbadero while speaking called on Nigerians to take the bull by the horns and do the needful to ensure that basic products, including foods, medicine, Motorized gadgets among others are produced within the country.
