THE Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has called for the diversification of the nation’s economy, noting that the over-reliance on oil and gas as source of national revenue was negatively impacting on the country and the people.

The guild, in a communiqué by its President, Funke Egbemode, and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the end of its conference, which had as theme:  Economic Diversification: Agriculture As Option For A Prosperous Nigeria, said: “There is a serious problem with the nation’s economy as a result of over-reliance on oil and gas as source of revenue for the country and there is urgent need to diversify the economy. Agriculture is the most viable option to adopt to revive the nation’s economy, create employment for the army of unemployed youths, and usher in prosperity for the country and its peoples.”

The conference was chaired by former Governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba and declared open by the governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike.

The guild also lamented the decline in the quality of journalism practice and non-adherence to the ethics of the profession and called on editors to make efforts to redress the situation in their organisations.

It urged government to evolve and strengthen policies that protect local farmers against influx of foreign agricultural products and encourage local production for food sufficiency and processing of raw materials for export, adding that the skills needed for agricultural production and processing should be stressed above mere certification for the sake of it.

The guild, after a careful observation of the state of affairs in Rivers State, commended the government and people of the state for the level of security and infrastructural development as well as for the steps being taken to promote agriculture in the state.