From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja
As part of its efforts to promote economic diversification for sustainable national development, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday reiterated its commitment to developing a viable roadmap for critical stakeholders. In a statement in Abuja, the commission said the roadmap will enable stakeholders make optimum utilization of Nigeria ’s natural resources for effective economic diversification.
Speaking in Kano at a two-day Zonal Advocacy Workshop on Economic Diversification and Enhanced Revenue Generation being organized by the commission in collaboration with the Kano State Government, Chairman of RMAFC, Engineer Elias Mbam observed that economic diversification has become imperative in order to shore up the nation’s revenue base and reduce the over-dependence on oil revenue which is subject to price volatility in the international market and possible extinction in the foreseeable future.
Mbam who was represented by Dr. Casmir Anyanwu, also stressed that the commission was desirous of developing a viable framework that will guide governments at all levels on strategies for exploiting the huge natural resources that abound in all parts of the country taking into consideration their areas of endowment and comparative advantage in agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, tourism and internally-generated revenue. The RMAFC boss further explained that the document to be produced in form of a compendium would be a constellation of all the proceedings arising from the series of zonal advocacy workshops being organized by the commission in all the geo-political zones in the country.
It will be recalled that the commission had earlier held similar workshops in Minna, Niger State for the North-Central, Abeokuta, Ogun State for the South-West and Asaba, Delta State capital for the South-South respectively, Head, Public Relations, of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, said in a statement.
Ds is a right step in d right direction.