Imo State
Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday declared that Nigerians are over
dramatizing the current economic recession.
He spoke when
he hosted to team of officers from the National Defence College, NDC, at the
Government House, Owerri.
“I think what
we call recession has been over dramatised. I say so because agriculture had
remained the nation’s main pivot upon which all the sectors of our economy
revolve”, Okorocha said.
“Because this
vital sector has been neglected, it has given rise to poverty today, including
the rise in the dollar and the fall of the Naira.
“Most times in
Nigeria, we treat the symptoms rather than the disease.
“Let us
discuss more about the disease, which is the total neglect of the agricultural
sector of the nation’s economy by our past leaders”, he added.
The Governor
recalled that before the advent of oil, agriculture provided over 70 percent of
employment and resources of the nation, as well as over 75 percent of Nigeria’s
foreign reserves.
“At that time,
we were a rich nation. Oil made us lazy. This led us into this recession. Imo
State is keying into the revitalization of the agric sector.
“We have gone
deep in our palm plantation and we are moving speedily into rice farming”,
Okorocha added.
In his remark,
leader of the visiting team, Air Vice Marshal H. C. Okpala, said the NDC was
where potential strategic leaders were trained.
Okpala noted
that the course will afford the participants the opportunity to access, suggest
and recommend solutions to the federal and state governments for
implementation.
Okorocha’s government recently said a huge heap of refuse was left uncleared in Owerri to
punish the residents.
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