By Soni Daniel

Abuja—Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has appealed to international agencies to assist Nigeria’s drive for self-sufficiency by encouraging local production of items required for the execution of their mandate in the country.

Udoma, who spoke at a meeting with the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, UNDPA, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin and his delegation from the agency’s office in New York, weekend, in Abuja, said Nigeria had the human capacity to realise the objective but needed support and patronage to drive the process.

As part of plans to achieve self-sufficiency, the Minister said government was focused on encouraging small and medium scale industries and promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods because there was a lot of scope for production and expansion.

He said:  “It is important that we support them and patronize them and help them improve on the quality of goods produced in Nigeria.”

The Minister told the delegation that there was no reason Nigerians could not manufacture most of the drugs and other medical accessories needed in the treatment and control of maternal mortality and other related medical conditions and would appreciate assistance more in the area of production of those materials locally.

Whilst thanking the donors for their contributions to improving health in Nigeria, he asked them to consider sourcing as much as possible, locally, so as to support local manufacturers.

He said Nigeria could achieve self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on development partners for assistance.