Decisive steps must be taken to plan beyond oil, says Gowon

Former Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has said that Nigeria must take decisive steps to plan beyond oil so as to reposition the nation’s economy for international competitiveness.
Gowon states this in a presentation at the 39th Kaduna International Trade Fair Seminar with the theme, “Promoting Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for International Competitiveness”.
Gowon, who chaired the event said that the Federal Government Medium Term Development Plans of the 1960s’ and 70s’ were designed to reposition Nigeria’s industrial sector for international competitiveness by 1980.
He however said that subsequent leaders in the country for one reason or the other abandoned the plans, which resulted in uncoordinated failed development programmes.
According to him, the first, second and third National Development Plans clearly projected what Nigeria was going to achieve by 1980 and prepared the grounds for industrial development.
He commended the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), the organisers of the event, for being in the forefront of promoting trade among various local and international businesses.
“KADCCIMA is closely associated with Kaduna State and the Federal Government to develop local and national economy by encouraging foreign enterprises and investors to invest in the country.
“One of the key event of the trade fair is the seminar that provides avenue for dialogue and exchange of ideas with local and foreign business communities on ways to drive the national economy forward.
“There is no better contribution than to show support to states and Federal Government quest to reposition the country’s economy for international competitiveness, ” he said.