The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced an assessment of economic diversification projects and programmes in Delta State as part of efforts to promote sustainable revenue generation beyond the oil and gas sector.
The assessment is being conducted by the Commission’s Mobilisation and Diversification Committee, led by the Federal Commissioner representing Edo State and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Victor Eboigbe.
Speaking at the opening of the exercise in Asaba, Hon. Eboigbe said the assessment is aimed at evaluating Delta State’s efforts to harness the potential of key non-oil sectors, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), to strengthen internally generated revenue and expand the nation’s economic base.
He noted that Nigeria’s dependence on oil revenue has continued to expose the country to fluctuations in the global oil market, stressing that economic diversification remains critical to sustainable growth, increased productivity and improved revenue generation.
According to him, the exercise is in line with the Commission’s constitutional mandate to monitor revenue accruals and advise governments on measures to improve fiscal efficiency and enhance revenue generation.
Hon. Eboigbe added that the initiative also supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises industrialisation, digitisation, manufacturing, innovation, agriculture, tourism and the creative economy as key drivers of national development.
He explained that the assessment would involve stakeholder consultations, administration of questionnaires and inspection of selected economic diversification projects implemented by the Delta State Government.
The Committee Chairman urged stakeholders to provide accurate information and constructive feedback to enable the Commission make recommendations that would strengthen the state’s non-oil economy.
Other members of the assessment team include the Federal Commissioner representing Delta State, Hon. Aruviere Egharhevwa; the Federal Commissioner representing Gombe State, Hon. Kabeer Mohammed Usman; the Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State, Hon. Akeem Akintayo Amosun; and officials of the Commission led by the Director of the Mobilisation and Diversification Department, Dr. Khadijah Kumo.