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| Dr. Farida Waziri |
A call has been made for the diversification of
Nigeria’s economy through policies that will boost agricultural
productivity and industrial output for the nation’s socio-economic
development.
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dr. Farida Waziri, who made the call while commissioning the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence Project, “Centre for Food Technology and Research” (CEFTER), located at the Benue State University (BENSU), Makurdi said the time had come to diversify the nation’s economy from being oil revenue driven to other sectors, especially Agriculture.
Waziri, who was the chairperson at the official launch of the Centre, noted that the World Bank project is coming to Nigeria at the right time.
According to statement by her media aide, Ade Williams, the former EFCC boss said long years of over-dependence on oil revenue is one of the driving forces of public and private sector corruption in the country.
She said “No doubt, our over-dependence on oil revenue has brought us to the point where we are as a nation today. As an anti-corruption czar, I have seen how some of those the nation entrusted with its oil resources in the past helped themselves more than the country.
“With our focus on agriculture, the struggle by political office holders to steal oil fund would diminish while the national wealth will be in the hands of the people instead of a privileged greedy few. We cannot all dig oil wells in our backyard but we can all farm in our backyards. It is time to end oil-money induced corruption in our land by buying into President Buhari’s vision and take ownership.
“I have made my contributions in the fight to discourage that and even recovered some of the looted funds in billions of dollars. For daring to do that, I came under fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats but by God’s grace and long years of experience, I survived all. I am glad today that indeed, there is a new sheriff in town.”
She further said: “I am aware the mandate of CEFTER is to promote teaching, research and extension in Post Harvest services, enhance agricultural productivity and industrial output for the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria and Africa. I must admit that this can’t be coming at a better time than now when the new leadership of our country is already looking towards agriculture as a more reliable alternative to oil revenue.
“With the strategic location of CEFTER in the food basket of the nation, Benue state and the caliber of hands that have been put in charge to manage the project, I will wholeheartedly seek the support of the federal government, multi-nationals and well-meaning Nigerians and our friends across the country that this is one project all of us should support in the interest of our national economy and economic development of all.”
Waziri added that the support will in no small way reduce the over $4 billion estimated as the yearly post harvest losses incurred by African countries.
While counseling the managers of the Centre to make dedication and transparency their watchwords, the former EFCC boss commended the Vice Chancellor of BENSU, Prof. Charity Angya, and the Project Manager of CEFTER, Dr. Barnabas Achakpa Ikya, for their efforts to see the project take-off.
Benue State University was chosen by the World Bank as one of its 10 Africa Centres of Excellence Project.
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dr. Farida Waziri, who made the call while commissioning the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence Project, “Centre for Food Technology and Research” (CEFTER), located at the Benue State University (BENSU), Makurdi said the time had come to diversify the nation’s economy from being oil revenue driven to other sectors, especially Agriculture.
Waziri, who was the chairperson at the official launch of the Centre, noted that the World Bank project is coming to Nigeria at the right time.
According to statement by her media aide, Ade Williams, the former EFCC boss said long years of over-dependence on oil revenue is one of the driving forces of public and private sector corruption in the country.
She said “No doubt, our over-dependence on oil revenue has brought us to the point where we are as a nation today. As an anti-corruption czar, I have seen how some of those the nation entrusted with its oil resources in the past helped themselves more than the country.
“With our focus on agriculture, the struggle by political office holders to steal oil fund would diminish while the national wealth will be in the hands of the people instead of a privileged greedy few. We cannot all dig oil wells in our backyard but we can all farm in our backyards. It is time to end oil-money induced corruption in our land by buying into President Buhari’s vision and take ownership.
“I have made my contributions in the fight to discourage that and even recovered some of the looted funds in billions of dollars. For daring to do that, I came under fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats but by God’s grace and long years of experience, I survived all. I am glad today that indeed, there is a new sheriff in town.”
She further said: “I am aware the mandate of CEFTER is to promote teaching, research and extension in Post Harvest services, enhance agricultural productivity and industrial output for the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria and Africa. I must admit that this can’t be coming at a better time than now when the new leadership of our country is already looking towards agriculture as a more reliable alternative to oil revenue.
“With the strategic location of CEFTER in the food basket of the nation, Benue state and the caliber of hands that have been put in charge to manage the project, I will wholeheartedly seek the support of the federal government, multi-nationals and well-meaning Nigerians and our friends across the country that this is one project all of us should support in the interest of our national economy and economic development of all.”
Waziri added that the support will in no small way reduce the over $4 billion estimated as the yearly post harvest losses incurred by African countries.
While counseling the managers of the Centre to make dedication and transparency their watchwords, the former EFCC boss commended the Vice Chancellor of BENSU, Prof. Charity Angya, and the Project Manager of CEFTER, Dr. Barnabas Achakpa Ikya, for their efforts to see the project take-off.
Benue State University was chosen by the World Bank as one of its 10 Africa Centres of Excellence Project.
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