By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has disclosed that the insecurity currently rocking the nation has hampered the economic diversification process in the country, particularly in the agricultural sector.
The Governor made this disclosure at the Government House Makurdi when a delegation from the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) led by, Alh. Abdullah Shuaibu paid a courtesy visit to him.
Ortom who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu described agriculture as the ” key driver of the nation’s economic diversification process.”
The Governor lamented over frequent attacks by Militia Herders on farmers, contending that it has affected efforts towards achieving agricultural mechanization.
Ortom who maintained that lack of progress in the diversification of the economy by the Federal Government despite pronouncements, enjoined it to step up more efforts towards reviving the country’s economy, stressing that to ensure success, the issue of multiple taxation must be addressed.
He Implored the commission to overhaul its formula for distribution of the nation’s wealth to favor States and Local Governments which according to him have more responsibilities.
Also speaking, leader of the delegation, Alh. Shuaibu opined that their mission in the state was to assess progress in diversification of the economy as well as advise the Federal and State Governments on fiscal efficiency in line with the Constitution of Nigeria.
Shuaibu noted that expanding the source of governance in the country in the context of mono economy calls for economic diversification.
