Ekiti Seeks N175.75 billion NRDF Grant to Diversify State’s Economy via Agric, Solid Minerals, Tourism Development.
….RMAFC officials in Ekiti for feasibility report
In a bid to facilitate a capital intensive and knowledge-driven economy built around solid Minerals, Agriculture and Tourism development for global competitiveness, Ekiti State Government has commenced plans to access the sum N175.75 Billion grant from the Natural Resources Development Fund (NRDF) through the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who gave this indication during a meeting with the leadership of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) led by Amb. Desmond Akawor, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, said the plan is to make Ekiti State the hub for prosperity, opportunity, peace and progress as well as lay the foundation for a prosperous and self-sufficient future for the citizens.
Addressing the RMAFC officials, who were in the state to carry out a feasibility Report and Recommendations on the proposed Natural Resources Development Fund (NRDF) Grant, Governor Oyebanji reiterated the commitment of his administration to industrial and entrepreneurial development as well as keeping the State in a perpetual state of economic growth and prosperity.
The Governor, who was represented at the meeting by his Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, added that the grant would assist in prioritizing government’s key policies and programmes focused on strategic economic sectors in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.
Governor Oyebanji highlighted the gains the state tends to derive from the grant to include diversification of the State’s economy and its revenue base, increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), attracting Foreign Direct Investments, creating an enabling environment for Private Sector Investments to thrive, earning Foreign Exchange as well as providing and sustaining food security through commercial and value-chain Agriculture.
The Governor also affirmed that his government will embark on massive agricultural development drive to enhance food security as well as build and invest in the tourism corridor that will be second to none in Nigeria.
“Ekiti is a state that is well known not just for education, but for its integrity and honour. As you know, apart from education, the next most important thing is agriculture, historically, because it employs most of our people, where our GDP also derives more than half, as of today, of this component.
“But just as His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has also expressed glowingly, we need to diversify the economy, and Ekiti is also working along this line. And one of the things we like about the President is that whenever he says something, he actually puts action to it.
“Basically the entire state is a tourism site because when you drive around and you see the undulating terrain, the hills and all of that, you actually marvel at what God has really blessed us with. We also have pockets of other land forms. We have caves. We have some of those other locations that we can actually work on. Once this comes in, you will see that the money will be effectively utilized and we shall do more in the area of tourism development.” He stated.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Amb. Desmond Akawor, revealed that the commission received the request from the state government to access N172.75Billion from the Development and Natural Resources Fund for developmental projects in the state. He called on the government to invest more on tourism describing it as gold mine for both the state and national development.
Amb. Akawor, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Fiscal Efficiency and Budget, noted the decision of the Federal Government to move from its monolithic economy to create
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