President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, declared that the novel Coronavirus pandemic has taught his administration invaluable lessons.
Igbere TV reports that Buhari made the declaration while inaugurating the $2.592bn Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas pipeline project virtually from the presidential villa.
He said the government also learnt from some oil-rich countries that have utilised their crude to achieve economic and industrial diversification.
Buhari was quoted as saying that the pandemic had further underscored his regime’s desire for projects that promote local manufacturing.
“President Buhari announced that Nigeria had learnt invaluable lessons from the global COVID-19 pandemic and some oil-rich countries that have used their crude as a pathway to economic and industrial diversification.
“On the COVID-19 pandemic, the President said the pandemic had further underscored the drive of his administration for export substitution initiatives and projects that promote local manufacturing,” the statement read.
On diversification, the President was quoted as noting that Gulf countries that have similar levels of gas reserves as Nigeria have a strategy centred around gas industrialisation as their foundation towards export diversification.
“This has to be our guiding principle as we seek to attract investment and create opportunities for our people,” he said.
