The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), through its Mobilisation and Diversification Committee led by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Victor Eboigbe, who is the Federal Commissioner representing Edo State, has commenced an assessment tour of Economic Diversification Projects and Programmes in Delta State as part of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to promote sustainable revenue generation beyond oil and gas.
Speaking at the opening session of the exercise held in Asaba, Delta State, Hon. Eboigbe stated that the assessment was aimed at evaluating the State’s efforts in harnessing the potential of key non-oil sectors of the economy, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with a view to strengthening internally generated revenue and expanding the nation’s economic base.
The Committee Chairman noted that Nigeria’s overdependence on oil revenue has continued to expose the country to the volatility of the international oil market, stressing that economic diversification remains the most viable path towards sustainable growth, increased productivity and improved revenue generation. He emphasized that the exercise aligned with the constitutional responsibility of the Commission to monitor revenue accruals and advise governments at all levels on measures to enhance fiscal efficiency and revenue generation.
Hon. Eboigbe further explained that the assessment exercise forms part of RMAFC’s broader commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places significant emphasis on industrialisation, digitisation, manufacturing, innovation, agriculture, tourism and the creative economy as drivers of national development.
According to him, the exercise also followed previous stakeholder engagements conducted by the Commission across the six geo-political zones to promote economic diversification nationwide.
He disclosed that the assessment would involve extensive stakeholder consultations, administration of questionnaires and physical inspection of selected diversification projects being implemented by the Delta State Government. He urged stakeholders to actively participate in the exercise by providing accurate information and constructive feedback that would assist the Commission in making informed recommendations capable of enhancing the State’s diversification efforts.
The Committee Chairman expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government and other stakeholders for their cooperation and hospitality, while expressing optimism that the exercise would contribute meaningfully to strengthening the State’s non-oil economy and improving revenue generation.
Other RMAFC officials who participated in the exrcise include Hon. Aruviere Egharhevwa; Federal Commissioner representing Delta State, Hon. Kabeer Mohammed Usman; Federal Commissioner representing Gombe State and Hon. Akeem Akintayo Amosun; Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State. Accompanying the Honourable Committee Members are staff members of the Commission led by Dr. Khadijah Kumo, Director Mobilisation and Diversification Department.
Maryam Umar Yusuf, mnipr
Head, Information and Public Relations Unit
RMAFC
