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The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, has called on South-East governors to harness agricultural and tourism potentials of region for economic growth and job creation benefits.
This call is contained in a statement jointly issued by NUF President, Chief Augustine Chukwudum and its Secretary-General, Mr Tony Igbokwe, on Monday in Enugu.
The statement noted the governors should start work and draw blue print that would help the region to harness its agricultural and tourism potentials that had been neglected since 1970 till date.
According to the statement, due to lack of developments in both sectors, the zone losses more than $150 billion (USA dollars) yearly that it supposed to be generated and also reduce crimes to the barest minimum.
“The agriculture and tourism sectors can transform the region to Holland of Africa. Holland as a country harnessed its agricultural and tourism sectors; thereby making the country a great economic power in Europe today.
“Malaysia came to South-East before Nigerian independent and picked up palm seedlings (palm fronts) went to their country planted, nurtured and researched into it. Today, Malaysia generates over $20 billion (USA dollars) yearly from palm oil and its derivatives.
“While South-East where the Malaysia palm seedlings came from today is importing palm oil. What we have in excess previously has left us; thus, showing how negligence we are as a people and government,” it said.
The statement noted that the zone had the best untapped tourism sites as well as fertile and arable land but neglected these great secrors because of monthly allocation that comes Abuja.
It said, “Tourism sites and potentials are very much abound that can attract more than 10 million tourists yearly to the region.
“It is evident that if our governors pays attention to these sectors mentioned more than 75 per cent of our people will be engaged; thereby, making the region an investment and job hubs in the country.
“South-East governors should leverage on private sector investors to push these two goldmine sectors waiting to be tapped, and create enable environment for the investors who will invest heavily in these sectors.
“The governors should put the region in the world tourism calendar as this will go a long way in positioning the zone as the best tourism destination in the world as the South-East has so much rich culture and tourist sites wating to be tapped.”
