President Muhammadu Buhari says reliance on a mono-economic product for too long has disorganised Nigeria.
The President made the statement on Tuesday in a meeting held in Abuja with some British Members of Parliament, led by a Nigerian, Honourable Chi Onwurah.
He said: “We are disorganised because we relied on mono-economic product for too long, and now that oil price is down, we have to go back to agriculture and solid minerals.
“Tin, columbite, cocoa, groundnut, and others, used to be the basis of our economy, but then, oil came, and everybody began to look for cheap money.
“Now, we need to start all over again,” he told the MPs.
President Buhari, however, assured the MPs that his government would rebuild Nigeria, but emphasised Nigeria’s expectations from Britain in the rebuilding process.
“We are going to rebuild Nigeria, and there are vast opportunities for Britain and us,” he stressed.
A statement by a spokesman for President Buhari said Honourable Onwurah, Nigerian-born MP for Newcastle, said the team was in Nigeria “to promote positive engagement between Nigeria and the UK.
“We are stronger when we build on ties of the past,” she stressed.
Honourable Onwurah said her team was interested in how the Diaspora could support the economic progress of Nigeria, as well as promotion of trade and diversification of the economy.
Other MPs that were part of the delegation are Rt. Honurable Laurence Robertson, another Nigerian, Honourable Ms Kate Osamor. The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright was also at the meeting.
