WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE TO DIVERSIFY ECONOMY – FG
Federal Government has said that the country requires appropriate infrastructure to attain its economic diversification goal. The minister of science and technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, stated this in Abuja when he received the Working Group from National Quality Infrastructure Project led by Prof. Abimbola Uzomah.
He stated that Nigeria must upscale its infrastructure before it can experience real economic growth and diversification. His words: “There is no way we can grow our economy and diversify it, and attract investors both local and foreign, if we don’t have necessary infrastructure in place.” Onu, further stated that his ministry was working tirelessly to deploy Science and Technology in the economic growth and development of the country. The minister noted that China’s Gross Domestic Product growth rate has remained at 9per cent over the last three decades because of the infrastructure put in place in the Asian country coupled with deployment of science and technology to drive its economic growth. “The foundation upon which the Chinese miracle lies is Science and technology. Through research and innovation, they keep on improving on their system, productivity and growth,” he added.
This, he acknowledged has lifted out hundreds of millions of Chinese from abject poverty. To this end, Onu assured that President Muhammadu Buhari led administration would deploy Science and Technology to achieve economic growth, diversification and boost food productivity.
On her part, the Lead Expert for National Quality Infrastructure of Nigeria, Prof. Abimbola Uzomah, explained that the group was in the Ministry of Science and Technology on advocacy visit. She said that the Working Group, made up of experts drawn from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies[MDAs], had undergone the review of technical regulations in Nigeria aimed at discovering the reasons for the lapses in the provision of infrastructure in Nigeria.
She explained that the Project is being funded by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation[UNIDO] to the tune of 12million Euros. Therefore, she solicited the support and assistance of the Ministry to succeed in their assignments. End.