PORT HARCOURT – Mr Offon Udofia, the President of Rivers/Bayelsa Shippers Association (RIBASA), on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to engender programmes that would encourage export of Nigerian goods.
Udofia made the call in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
According to him, any economy that de-emphasises imports has the potential of growing above poverty level.
He said that exports would reduce the pressure on the Naira and increase the nation’s foreign exchange earnings to the advantage of the economy.
“Cashew fruits and nuts are cash crops which if well harnessed and exported will bring much money for the country.
“Even kolanuts and bitter kola has the potential of turning around our economy because it has various medicinal uses,’’ the RIBASA boss said.
Udofia also noted that it was imperative to engage exports more than imports, saying that it was necessary for the growth of the nation’s economy.
“We have so much run our economy on imports, what it is left now is for us to import even drinking water,’’ he said.
The president, however, commended the Federal Government for its efforts at promoting export policies but said that such policies should be pursued aggressively. (NAN)
