Date: 2010-10-10

The Kwara State Governor and a presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP, Dr Bukola Saraki  has promised to develop a blue print to harness tourism potential in the country in order to encourage the growth of the non-oil sector.

Dr Saraki stated this at the Margret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, at the weekend while speaking with journalists shortly after paying a condolence visit to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State on the death of his mother, Mrs. Comfort Imoke.

The governor, who also promised to create employment opportunities for restive youths in the country, said he would fast-track the process of developing the non-oil sector to further enhance the growth of the economy.

He expressed optimism that his vision to develop the Nigerian economy using agriculture and tourism as lead when elected Nigeria’s President was realizable in view of the success story of agriculture in Kwara State as a viable tool to fight poverty.

According to him, the non-oil sector including agriculture as at today have an average of 6 â€" 9% contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a development he said, was good for an agrarian and tourism economy like Nigeria.

The presidential aspirant assured that with what he has achieved in the State through commercial agriculture to guarantee food security, there are a lot he can offer the country if given the same opportunity to prove his mettle at a higher level.

Cross River State, he observed, can be used as a test case to show how tourism can be put to work in Nigeria to create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

He, however, commended the Cross River State Government for its efforts at making tourism a buoyant venture in the State.

Speaking on security, Saraki said there was the need to improve the security network in the country, pointing out that security is keen to economic development.

He made reference to his administration’s efforts in guaranteeing security of lives and property in Kwara State through the introduction of CCTV cameras in strategic locations, saying it can also be introduced in all the nation’s cosmopolitan cities and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory to guarantee safety as well.

Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Scretary to the Kwara State Governor
10/10/2010