COVID-19:Lets embark on industrialisation and reduce importation to develop economy-Dr Opanuga
….says return to regionalism is best way to industrialise the nation
In the face of serious economic challenges facing the nation as a result of Coronavirus pandemic,Executive Director of Nigeria Institute of Production Management,(NIPM), has called on the federal government to embark on an aggressive policy to encourage massive industrialization with a view to boost other sectors of the economy.
According to him,this measure will save the nation of the now scarce foreign exchange because of the reduction in oil sales which is the mainstay of the nations economy.
In an interview with Newdawn Sunday,Dr Opanuga who,is a former chairman of Odogbolu local government in Ogun state, advise the federal government to channel the productive capacity of the country to produce goods now being imported to grow the local economy and give jobs to the teeming youths.
Referring to the Chinese Presidents speech on the economy, he said to respond to the challenge the nation needs to look inward and tap its local talent for economic liberation.
Said he,”the lesson is simple. Nigerian Government needs to embark on a serious industrial development drive and begin to aggressively invest in production starting with infrastructural development which is grossly inadequate and decadent.”
Dr Opanuga contended that for now the nations economic future is bleak adding,” with our current penchant for importation and consumption of foreign goods in the face of depleted foreign reserves, low GDP, mounting foreign and local debts naira devaluation,the nation needs to promote entrepreneurship and small business incubation across the country, review our value chains and align our educational curricula with labour market values”
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to out in place proper policy to industrialise the nation and diversify its resources before the expiration of its tenure.
On the future of the nations democracy,he called for a return to regional system of government to enable the regions to fashion out best policies for its industrialisation ..
On the nations leadership he declared,”Right now leadership vision, capacity and commitment transform the economy are lacking…and that’s my greatest fear..Buhari administration is now busy with the process of handing over baton of power and not about any dramatic changes. The government has tried to promote agriculture and protect local industries through boarder closure etc. It should deal decisively with insecurity and electricity challenges. It should complete the rail system that’s ongoing. The naira should be strengthened and the war against corruption should not be lost….if not lost already. The nation should go back to regional governance system and curb waste associated with over reliance on oil, avoidance of devolution of power to the regions and the stifling of the local government system….. to deepen development at the grassroots. Religious bigotry should be wiped out and tribal dichotomy neutralized……I can go ad infinitum.
In conclusion,he called on the federal government to industrialise Nigeria, “before our oil reserves dry up or crude prices crash to nothingness owing increasingly ubiquitous discovery of oil wells, US shale optimization, global abundance of alternative energy sources and clampdown on non renewables or anti-greenhouse activism.
Let’s stop playing politics with Boko Haram, herdsmen and animal grazing and enhance security. No meaningful development can take place without security of lives and property. Let’s have a functional educational system, curb unemployment and make our youths productive. Let’s promote entrepreneurship. Let’s fix infrastructure. We are too religious and less Godly. We deceive ourselves a lot. We hate ourselves. We don’t love Nigeria.”
He is of the opinion that for now,” Responsible leaders are in short supply in Nigeria. Most of the leaders so called are unknowledgeable and
amassing wealth at the detriment of the masses as if they will never die”
As for the masses,he challenged them to be ready to change they system adding, “why are we afraid to die for our children to see a better tomorrow. Nigerians are mostly cowards who can’t embark on any meaningful revolution. Many are lost killing innocent people for money or shamelessly leaking the boots of bourgeoisie cabals to edge a living”.
