A Political Economist has advised the government to focus on building the economy rather than the value of Naira.
Professor Pat Utomi was speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday.
The Economist, who was giving his opinion about the value of the Naira against that of the Dollar, said “I think we are obsessed with the value of the Dollar which is preventing us from focusing on building our economy.
“I think the value of a currency is essentially a symptom of something more important that is underline.
“Instead of getting fixated with this business of value of the Naira, why don’t we look at fixing the fundamentals and then, the value of the Naira would emerge as a function.”
Mr Utomi, however, opined that the government should keep enlightening Nigerians on how well the value of the Naira can help boost the economy – how their everyday choices can affect the economy .
“We must continue this conversation so that the incentives would be clear to people because we are the choices we make.
“The conversation must happen everywhere. One of the biggest challenges I have about our situation is the nature of the public sphere – the market place of ideas.
“People say Nigerians talk a lot, but in many ways, we don’t talk at all, we don’t have intelligent conversation.
“But plain intelligent conversation on issues would provide policy makers on which part to travel,” he explained.
