FCT Minister urges elites to embrace FG's change mantra

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has urged Nigeria’s elite to embrace the change agenda of the Federal Government to make Nigeria great again.

Bello made the call when he received participants of Senior Course 38, Command and Staff College, Jaji, in Abuja on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Course 38 participants were on study tour of FCT administration.

He said that the topic under discussion, ``Repositioning Nigeria’s non-oil sector as a major source of revenue’’,, was timely considering the dwindling oil prices at the international market.

Represented by Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, FCT Permanent Secretary, Bello said Nigeria’s elite should decide whether they were really ready individually and collectively .

``This is what the study is all about. We need to rethink our own role individually in what has happened in the past and what is happening now.

``The most important thing in Nigeria is for those of us who are seated here and representing the elites to have a consensus and agree that we are really ready for change.

``This was what happened in Singapore and Malaysia,” the minister said.

Bello said he wondered how the country got to the present position that it was just beginning to discuss the issue of diversification after more than 50 years of independence.

``We have had very bad leadership in the history of this country and it is very unfortunate because we did not start with oil after all.

``The major infrastructure that we have in this country today was not built with oil money but as oil came, we lost our senses and today we are trying to bring it back,” he added.

He expressed regrets that the industries were down, especially the textile industries, second most important area that employed people in Nigeria apart from the public service.

``These are the things we should look at,’’ he said.

The leader of the delegation, Rear Admiral Makanju Madison, said in the college, students receive lectures from various areas of interest associated with national development, national security and embark on study tour, once in a year.

Madison said that it was a kind of environmental study tour, familiarising the students with the socio-economic and political developments in the country.

``This year, we are here in the Federal Capital Territory, the seat of government.

``When we go out, the students have the opportunity to consolidate the knowledge that we seek by way of interaction with practical experiences in the field.

``This is very important to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

``I want to thank the FCT administration for the arrangements it made for our reception because since we came, we have been very well received.

``We have been privileged to visit selected departments of this FCT administration to see your activities,” he said.