PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria to diversify away from oil, gas - President Jonathan
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, has said that his administration is working towards the diversification of the economy to move the west African nation away from dependence on oil and gas.
A Nigerian presidency press statement, received here by PANA, quoted President Jonathan as giving this indication Thursday in Beijing in an interview with China Television.
According to the statement, President Jonathan said: "the increasing exploitation and utilisation of shale gas and other alternative sources of energy by the US and other advanced nations has made it more urgent for Nigeria to move faster towards the diversification of its economy. The increasing utilisation of alternative sources of energy was a matter of concern for Nigeria and other oil-exporting nations.
“We must work towards greater industrialisation, add more value to our agricultural products, develop our solid minerals potentials and other sectors of our economy before the time comes when crude oil may no longer be dominant as a global source of energy.”
At a meeting with the Nigerian community in China, President Jonathan commended the National Assembly for its ongoing process of expanding the coverage of the Local Content Act to sectors other than oil and gas, saying that the move would further stimulate domestic industrialisation and contribute significantly to the desired diversification of Nigeria’s economy.
“As a people, we must build our country. I can assure you that we are working steadily to do so. Our vision and roadmap are very clear,” he said.
Responding to concerns raised by a member of the community about Nigerian professionals having to compete with expatriates from China and other countries for employment opportunities in Nigeria, the President said that Nigeria’s immigration laws and expatriate quotas provided adequate protection for Nigerian workers.
“If our immigration personnel do their job as they are expected to do it, then you are all adequately protected,” he said.
President Jonathan urged Nigerian students and professionals in China to imbibe the positive traits of the Chinese and come home to contribute to national development.
“You are in a country that is a super power, a country that is technologically developed, a country of hard working people who work day and night. If you imbibe this culture and pass through their training, you will all be in a position to come home and help us to develop our own country," said the president.
He assured them that his administration was totally committed to making a positive difference in the lives of all Nigerians.
The President also addressed a large turn-out of Chinese investors at a Nigeria-China Business Forum at the Beijing World Trade Centre, urging them to take advantage of the very generous investment incentives currently being offered by the Federal Government.
President Jonathan assured the Chinese business community of the safety of their current and future investments in Nigeria.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 11July2013
A Nigerian presidency press statement, received here by PANA, quoted President Jonathan as giving this indication Thursday in Beijing in an interview with China Television.
According to the statement, President Jonathan said: "the increasing exploitation and utilisation of shale gas and other alternative sources of energy by the US and other advanced nations has made it more urgent for Nigeria to move faster towards the diversification of its economy. The increasing utilisation of alternative sources of energy was a matter of concern for Nigeria and other oil-exporting nations.
“We must work towards greater industrialisation, add more value to our agricultural products, develop our solid minerals potentials and other sectors of our economy before the time comes when crude oil may no longer be dominant as a global source of energy.”
At a meeting with the Nigerian community in China, President Jonathan commended the National Assembly for its ongoing process of expanding the coverage of the Local Content Act to sectors other than oil and gas, saying that the move would further stimulate domestic industrialisation and contribute significantly to the desired diversification of Nigeria’s economy.
“As a people, we must build our country. I can assure you that we are working steadily to do so. Our vision and roadmap are very clear,” he said.
Responding to concerns raised by a member of the community about Nigerian professionals having to compete with expatriates from China and other countries for employment opportunities in Nigeria, the President said that Nigeria’s immigration laws and expatriate quotas provided adequate protection for Nigerian workers.
“If our immigration personnel do their job as they are expected to do it, then you are all adequately protected,” he said.
President Jonathan urged Nigerian students and professionals in China to imbibe the positive traits of the Chinese and come home to contribute to national development.
“You are in a country that is a super power, a country that is technologically developed, a country of hard working people who work day and night. If you imbibe this culture and pass through their training, you will all be in a position to come home and help us to develop our own country," said the president.
He assured them that his administration was totally committed to making a positive difference in the lives of all Nigerians.
The President also addressed a large turn-out of Chinese investors at a Nigeria-China Business Forum at the Beijing World Trade Centre, urging them to take advantage of the very generous investment incentives currently being offered by the Federal Government.
President Jonathan assured the Chinese business community of the safety of their current and future investments in Nigeria.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 11July2013
