Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called for sustained efforts to diversify the country’s economy following dwindling Mr. earnings from oil.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday during a visit by Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the governor said that the country can no longer depend solely on oil earnings.
He said that Rivers State Government will partner with the NEPC to develop alternative sources of foreign exchange earnings for the state.
According to him: “There is a need to urgently diversify the economy because with oil the country cannot progress under the present dispensation “.
The governor noted that the present economic challenges facing the country means that states have to look inwards to survive.
He particularly said the state government will like to collaborate with NEPC in the area of Agriculture.
Earlier, Awolowo had called on the Rivers State Government to develop her agriculture and petrochemicals sectors to generate revenue for the State.
He said the country is facing difficult times, hence the NEPC is collaborating with states to develop export based products.