Umuahia—THE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. yesterday, said the Federal Government would diversify the nation’s economy through local production of goods and services.

He said the promotion of Made-in-Nigeria goods was central to Nigeria’s industrial development, explaining that there would soon be a review of the Bureau of Public Procurement , BPP, Act to promote local goods and services.

Mohammed made these submissions in an address at the government’s 9th Town Hall Meeting in Umuahia.

*Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture

He said the Change Begins With Me campaign, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on   September 8,  2016,   was “aimed at achieving a paradigm shift in the way we do things.”

Mohammed said: “Boosting industrial development, especially through the local production of goods and services, is a major plank of this policy. Patronising Made-in-Nigeria goods and services is also key to the success of the policy.  In this regard, I can boldly say that Abia State is a pacesetter.  Today, the state supplies high-quality military boots to our military, and that is just one of such impressive ventures by the state. So, while the state is boosting local production of goods and services, the military is patronising Made-in-Nigeria goods. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and there is no better way to give teeth to the economic diversification policy.

“A major way of encouraging growth and development as well as boosting the nation’s economy is by helping the small businesses to blossom. To achieve this, the Federal Government has taken the bull by the horns by working with the states to address the root problems facing the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME.  This is being done through Clinics being organized in each state, and this will be followed up with a huge MSME Trade Fair in Abuja later in the year, where grant agencies and investors will be invited to provide funds for outstanding businesses. I am happy to announce that the Clinic was launched here in Abia State, specifically in Aba, on the 26th and 27th of January 2017. That’s a befitting tribute to Abia’s trail-blazing efforts at nurturing MSMEs.”

The minister had said the Federal Executive Council, FEC, had approved plans to review the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Act to promote local goods and services.

He added: ”Talking about Made-in-Nigeria products, let me use this important national platform to announce that the FEC has already approved measures to sensitize Nigerians to patronize such products. These measures include the approval given to the Bureau of Public Procurement to increase the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria good and services through a review of its Act.”

On the ease of doing business, the Minister said the Federal Government had approved the opening of additional 28 offices for issuance of Residence Permits in Nigeria for foreign investors.

He said: “Also, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, which is presided over by the Acting President, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo, has approved a 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business in Nigeria.”