Onyeama To LGA: Explore Natural Resources In Your Areas To Boost Development

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Sunday, May 2nd, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s Minister of foreign Affairs, has challenged Council Area Chairmen in the country to start looking inward towards exploring the natural resources in their domains for the development of such localities.

He said, it is high time leaders in that tier of government in Nigeria begin to de-emphasise over dependency on the federal government’s statutory monthly allocation for the development of the local entities.

Rather, than over depending on the federal allocation, they should explore some of the natural resources in their domains, especially those they have comparative advantage, and add value to them.

Onyeama stated this weekend while delivering a keynote address at the maiden edition of Udi local government area of Enugu state’s Economic Summit, held at the Council’s headquarters.

He posited that Udi Council area has the capacity to advance its economy via various natural resources she is endowed with if properly harnessed and utilized.

African Examiner reports that the theme of the Summit was “Udi Economy Beyond Statutory Allocation”

According to the Minister , Udi as a council area is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, capable of turning around the area if properly utilized, hence the need for our Chairman to look inward.

He however, advised the Udi Council Chairnan, Hon. Ifeanyi Agu, on the need to establish a data bank of the local government sons and daughters in various field of human endeavor, both at home and in Diaspora with a view to collaborating with them in areas of need.

The Udi Council under Agu’s watch he said, must start thinking outside the box, stressing that the Administration can invest heavily in areas as Agriculture, Tourism, noting that the local government is endowed with the best natural water in Africa.

“Like you know, in this 21st century, ideas rule the world, and that is why some of the wealthy men you hear their names today across the globe such as Bill Gate became rich through new ideas, innovations. So, we must create an enabling environment for our youths.

“The local government can collaborate with the state government to create the needed enabling Environment for our youths.

“There is no limitation to what we can actually achieve with our God given local natural resources that are abound here in our beloved local government area Udi.

Investing on the young people, (youths), is another sure way of development . We must explore our natural resources in Udi for the economic development of land .

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Power and one of the panelists, professor Chinedu Nebo, who also hail from the local government area, applauded the Council Chairman for the Summit initiative, saying it was apt.

The event was attended by captains of industry, government functionaries, the Academia amongst others from the local government area.