RMAFC Commends Sule for Seeking to Diversify Nasarawa’s Economy

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday commended Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, for his remarkable efforts aimed at diversifying the economy of his state.

Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the commendation when he led a delegation from the RMAFC on a courtesy call on the governor, in  Lafia.

Shehu specifically lauded the governor for his strides in seeing that Nasarawa State becomes an oil producing state, especially with the official flag-off of oil drilling at the Ebenyi-A oil well in Obi Local Government Area of the state.

He equally extolled Sule’s latest foray, particularly the mining of lithium by a Chinese company in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

“We have seen now that very soon Nasarawa will be declared an oil producing state and eventually alongside that there will be the 13 per cent derivation that is given constitutionally to every producing state.” 

“This will be the beginning of the industrialization of the state.

“And your efforts are also noted in other areas of diversification of the economy of Nasarawa State. Recently, you were in the news about lithium factory that is coming in. My understanding is that they are not just coming to exploit it and take it out, they are going to process it here. There will be value-chain along the line,” the RMAFC chairman said.

He also commended the efforts of the governor in the area of technical education, expressing optimism that soon, citizens of Nasarawa State will fill up technical vacancies not only in Abuja but the country at large.

The RMAFC boss emphasised that it was the responsibility of his commission to motivate states towards diversifying their economies towards increasing their internally generated revenue(IGR).

He informed the governor that they were in Lafia to inspect an office building allocated to the commission at the Justice Sidi Bage Federal Secretariat, in continuation of the efforts for the RMAFC to haveoperational offices in each of the 36 states of the federation.

Responding, Governor Sule disclosed that other companies were  showing interest in mining lithium in the state, with one  already showing interest to mine lithium in the Nunku area in Akwanga Local Government Area.

“Those are the kinds of opportunities that we have and I thank you for doing everything possible to promote diversification of the economy and by your call on various governors and especially to the National Economic Council (NEC), to ensure that we continue to diversify for the progress of our country,” he stated.