The Commissioner for
Commerce and Industries, Mr. Peter Akam Egba, has called on the people of Cross River State to support the Prof. Ben Ayade led administration to achieve its set goals.
Egba made the call while fielding questions from journalists on made in Nigeria products.
He explained that the issue of diversification of the economy by the Federal Government was already taking foot in the state, noting that, the dual carriage road and the deep seaport would serve as evacuation corridors for the produce from the state.
The Commissioner added that, the Garment factory, the Calabar Pharmaceutical company which is being built, and the sugar industry which would utilise the two flanks of the super high way, are all aspects of diversification of the economy that would create jobs and pull people off the streets.
“When these products are patronised, subsidiaries would spring up and a lot of people would be engaged. Population is a component of any market and Nigeria, with a large population can provide a huge market for anything produced locally”, he said.
The situation has become very bad where everything is imported even as small as handkerchief and tooth pick. Those who refuse to buy made in Nigeria products should feel guilty since they are exporting Nigerian caregivers’ jobs to other countries, thereby weakening the local currency and putting pressure on the demand for the dollar,” he added.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
