The Nigeria Guide of Editors Forum has emphasized on the need for Nigeria to embark on deliberate and sustained diversification of its economy.

This statement as contained in the Communiqué on the editors deliberation which centred on ‘Nigeria beyond Oil: Role of the Editor’, was informed by the report gotten by the forum after their assessment of the Nigeria’s economy and the challenges of it’s over dependence on oil.

The forum noted that agriculture, tourism and other non-oil source should be intensively explored in order to avert the shattering consequences of a future without oil.

The editors’ forum therefore called on financial institutions and funding agencies for  increased funding to non-oil sectors, especially agriculture, SMEs and manufacturing, to avert the consequences of over reliance on oil.

The Communiqué also said there should be an integrated approach to diversification of the economy such that all sectors are involved in curbing corruption and wastages, and improved governance to ensure the survival of the country beyond oil.

According to the Communiqué too, the forum emphasized the need for the government to fast-track efforts to improve infrastructure, particularly power, transportation and telecommunications, as doing so would encourage sustainable diversification of the economy.

Deliberating on security issues, the editors noted that all tiers of government and the citizenry should be involved in the drive to ensure security of lives and property as no meaningful economic development can be achieved in an insecure environment.

Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State, addressing the editors in the forum, said the federal administration share a common desire and will to build the economy beyond oil.

Governor Uduaghan however insisted that the ultimate success of Nigeria beyond oil initiatives rests in the joint partnership of government and the Nigerian people, urging Nigerian editors to come on board by constantly mediating through their adequate education of the people about the importance and the sacrifices that have to be made if the country is to succeed in our quest.