How Nigeria Can Overcome Economic Recession – Obasanjo

Obasanjo Former Nigeria’s President has called on African countries to explore trading opportunities within the continent as part of efforts to boost their economies.

Obasanjo made the call on Monday when a delegation from the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment paid him a courtesy visit at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The delegation, led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enalamah, included the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, and members of some committees of the National Assembly. The delegation was in Abeokuta for the eighth edition of the council’s meeting, with the theme: “Diversification of the Nigerian Economy: From Over Dependence on Oil Exports.” The former president expressed concern that the share of intra-African trade in Africa’s total trade over the past decade was only about 12 per cent compared to 65 per cent of Asia. Obasanjo called for removal of all barriers against intra- African trade and the establishment of commodity exchange for agricultural goods produced in the region. He also called for the establishment of coastal shipping system to ease trading within the region. Obasanjo expressed optimism that an enhanced coastal shipping system would increase the share of intra-African trade in the region’s total trade by 10 per cent. He faulted the argument that trading within the African Union would continue to be low because the member countries produced same commodities. Obasanjo said: “I want to disabuse the minds of our people against the notion that the level of trading among ourselves will be low because we are producing the same goods.