The Nigerian government says it is ready for the second peer review country self-assessment to be done by New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina disclosed this on Wednesday, while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of this week’s cabinet meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said President Buhari gave the approval for the assessment to be carried out at the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council.
According to Adesina: “Nigeria is ready for the second peer review country self-assessment report to be done by New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
“The last self-assessment report was done 10 years ago in Nigeria and now the country is ready for the second self-assessment report and the matter was discussed at today’s cabinet meeting and the President has granted the approval that the peer review be conducted on Nigeria.”
The Presidential spokesperson noted that a lot of progress has been made, between when the last assessment was done and now.
“Nigeria has made progress in several areas and on several fronts. While 10 years ago petroleum contributed more than 70 percent, even up to 90 percent to our GDP, you will find out that today it contributes just about 45 percent and non-oil products contribute about 55 percent to the Nigerian economy.
“So if Nigerian had been talking of diversification 40-50 years ago, the economy be said to be diversified because our GDO’s non-oil revenue contributes about 55 percent to 45 percent of oil. So that is one of the highlights of the peer review self-assessment report that was presented at the council meeting today,” he said.
Commenting on the recent order of the ECOWAS court, where it restrained the Nigerian government form banning the use of twitter in the country, Adesina said the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami is studying that court ruling and he will advise government on the next step to take.
Nnenna.O
