By Bridget Ikyado
Amman,(Jordan) March 25,2023
Mr James Dangana, Senior Special Assistant to the Nasarawa State Government has urged the Federal Government to reposition its mining and tourism sectors to boost revenue generation and job creation..
Dangana, a former lawmaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jordan.
He spoke on the sidelines of his prayer during the 9th batch of the 2022 Nigerian Pilgrims tour in Jordan.
According to him, government should prioritise revenue generation drive in mining and tourism sectors to achieve the desired goals.
“We are having a tour in Jordan and observably, some States in Nigeria are bigger than Jordan, but see how developed the country is.
“I have noticed they have taken their mining tourism and agricultural sectors serious and using it to generate revenue and develop the country.
“These people enjoy tourism, which had become another means of revenue; Nigeria has lots to borrow from Israel and probably Jordan, where we visited.
“Nigeria has lots of tourist sites and very beautiful nature that God has endowed us with, all these has kept their youth busy, none on the streets causing mayhem.
“This is what Nigeria should emulate,” he said.
Dangana also urged state governments to invest in tourism and mining sectors to increase their revenue bases and create wealth for their people.
He said: “Let government take advantage of these abundant blessings in the country as an opportunity to create jobs and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
“Nigeria can take advantage of that by exploring tourism potential that is endowed in the nation so that our GDP can improve.
“I appeal to government of our fatherland to leverage the endowed tourism and mining potential that abound in the country and make good use of them.
“Government can take advantage of these abundant blessing, as an opportunity to create jobs and put “smiles on the faces of Nigerians .”
He said Nasarawa state was endowed with so many natural resources, while oil was recetnly discovered and exploration would commence soon.
Dangana also extolled the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdulahi Sule for his commitment to the good cause in terms of development of the sectors, urging that more should be done.
He added: ‘This is to insure that oil exploration becomes fruitful, revenue base of Nasarawa State is boosted to be among league of oil producing states.
“The state will soon enjoy 13 per cent revenue and that will boost the economy and revenue of the state, which by implication translates to greater development”.
Dangana expressed the hope that in no distant time, the state would be celebrated for investment in mineral exploration.
He said: ”Also in the revamp of tourism sector, Raw minerals also abound in the country, particularly in Nasarawa State,”
The former lawmaker reiterated that it had become important to emulate other nations, such as Jordan as they do not rely on just crude oil or PMS, as major revenue source.
Dangana said: “Apart from oil, a lot of mineral deposits like coal and many others are exploited in the state.
“The governor is doing his best by approaching the Ministry of Environment that is saddled with the responsibility of managing mineral resources of the state .
“The ministry is doing well and a lot of revenue are being earned from the available mineral deposits in Nansarawa State.”
He, however, said the state had eradicated illegal mining and engaged in elaborate enlightenment of artisan miners, which resulted in the formation of their organised cooperatives.
