The Ogun State Government has said it is deliberate about developing its export potentials in line with the drive of the Federal Government to diversify the economy away from the oil sector.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela when he played host to the delegations of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Ogun State Coordinating Office led by the Council’s State Co-ordinator, Mrs. Francisca Odega, Nigeria Union of Mines Workers (NUMW), the State chapter, led by Comrade Fasil Alao Abiola and the Institute of Directors led by Mr. Emmanuel Adeniran, in his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Sofela, who was joined by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Yemisi Dawodu and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, noted that the present administration in Ogun State is not just interested in crops such as cassava and cashew, among others, where it has comparative advantage, but its focus is on the value addition which includes the totality of the value chain that are in crops.
He also affirmed that the State government cannot afford to suffer any form of revenue leakages, pointing out that the Prince Dapo Abiodun led government is committed to timely review of processes with a bid to doing things differently.
“Ogun State is in sync with the Federal Government move to diversify the economy from the oil sector. Our Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun is particularly very deliberate and conscious of this. He is also in alignment with the desire to grow the export base of the State.
“Our interest is in everything that includes the totality of value chain that are derivable from the crops such as cassava and cashew where we have comparative advantage, ” the Commissioner said.
In their separate remarks, Mrs. Odega, Comrade Abiola and Mr. Adeniran, commended Governor Abiodun for his choice of Sofela as the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, describing the him as a professional to the core who has the capacity to take the Industry, Trade and Investment sector to desired heights.