The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a prominent pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, has called on governors of the South-East to urgently tap into the region’s vast agricultural and tourism potentials, which it says can drive economic development and create massive job opportunities.
This appeal was contained in a joint statement issued in Enugu on Monday by the group’s President, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, and Secretary-General, Mr. Tony Igbokwe.
The statement emphasized the need for state governments in the region to begin serious work and develop a comprehensive blueprint that would unlock the long-neglected agricultural and tourism assets of the South-East.
“The agriculture and tourism sectors can transform the region to Holland of Africa. Holland as a country harnessed its agricultural and tourism sectors; thereby making the country a great economic power in Europe today,” the group stated.
According to NUF, the South-East has continued to lose over $150 billion annually due to underdevelopment in both sectors, losses that could have been prevented if these potentials were properly harnessed.
The group added that such development would also help to significantly reduce crime rates.
It also cited the missed opportunity in palm oil production: “Malaysia came to South-East before Nigerian independent and picked up palm seedlings (palm fronts), went to their country, planted, nurtured and researched into it. Today, Malaysia generates over $20 billion (USA dollars) yearly from palm oil and its derivatives.
“While South-East where the Malaysia palm seedlings came from today is importing palm oil. What we have in excess previously has left us; thus, showing how negligence we are as a people and government,” it added.
The group decried the neglect of vast fertile lands and rich tourist attractions in the region, blaming it in part on over-dependence on monthly federal allocations.
“The zone had the best untapped tourism sites as well as fertile and arable land but neglected these great sectors because of monthly allocation that comes from Abuja,” the statement read.
“Tourism sites and potentials are very much abound that can attract more than 10 million tourists yearly to the region.
“It is evident that if our governors pay attention to these sectors mentioned, more than 75 per cent of our people will be engaged; thereby, making the region an investment and job hub in the country,” it said.
The group urged the governors to partner with the private sector and create a conducive environment for investors willing to commit funds into the agriculture and tourism value chains.
“South-East governors should leverage on private sector investors to push these two goldmine sectors waiting to be tapped, and create enable environment for the investors who will invest heavily in these sectors.
“The governors should put the region in the world tourism calendar as this will go a long way in positioning the zone as the best tourism destination in the world as the South-East has so much rich culture and tourist sites waiting to be tapped,” the statement concluded.
