54 AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries :

Nigeria’s potential of agriculture is barely being tapped, as the country is unable to meet the ever growing demand for agriculture produce. Though this sector remains one of the largest employer of the country’s labor still there is a serious requirement of investment to enhance production and increase the sector’s contribution to the GDP.

Investment is required in the production of crops such that the country achieves food security and provides for its industrial raw material. In crop production, potential lies in cereals like corn, maize, millet rice and sorghum, in root crops like cassava, cocoyam, ginger, potato and yam, in fruits like mango, banana, oranges, guava, pawpaw and pineapple, in vegetables like cabbage, green pepper, carrots, lettuce, spice, onions, melons and in tree Crops like Oil palm, cocoa, rubber, coconut, kolanut, coffee, beniseed, cotton, cashew nut, sugar cane.

Another major opportunity exists in the floriculture and in experimental orchards for temperate fruits like apples, grape-vines and pears. Some of such orchards are established in the high plateau regions.

Livestock and Fisheries production also has great potentials for development. Grazing lands have abundant facilities for animal feed production which is plentiful. The in-land rivers lakes and coastal creeks are sufficient to augment ocean fishery resources. Agricultural inputs supplies and machinery, water resources development especially for flood control infrastructure and irrigation. Development and fabrication of appropriate small scale mechanized technologies for on farm processing of agricultural produce.

Telecommunication :

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was established in the year 1992. The organization was established to regulate the performance of this sector. The government by the Decree 75 in that same year allowed the participation of the private sector in this industry. Further enhancement of the industry was done by the government when it deleted all the provision which inhibited the competition in this industry.

Even after these reforms the telecommunication industry in Nigeria is far from being developed. A dearth of infrastructural facilities is a major constraint on the services provided to the existing and potential customers. Therefore urgent need to expand the infrastructures in this sector is felt. The telecommunication sector plays an important role in the economic, social, political, cultural and in fact overall development of a country’s society and properly integrates it into the international community. This desired expansion cannot be achieved under the present dispensation where the needed equipment is usually imported. While importing Nigeria faces problems of foreign exchange procurement, freighting cost, long delivery period etc. There is therefore no other realistic option than to use the locally manufactured equipments and spares.

Tourism :

A tourism policy with the basic objectives to make Nigeria the ultimate tourism destination in Africa has been introduced. The main thrust of government policy on tourism, is to generate foreign exchange, encourage even development, promote tourism based rural enterprises, generate employment and accelerate rural urban integration and cultural exchange.

The government wants to accelerate Beach and Coastal Resort development, Conservation and Protection of 8 national parks and over 10 game reserves. Development of hotels and standard restaurants water recreation, package tour services, air and rail services. Development of caves, tunnels, waterfalls and spring waters. Youth hostels, camps and Centers Lake and River sport fishing. Scenic and Mountain Holiday resorts Theme/Amusement parks Conference/Congress Services Conservation and protection of endangered wildlife especially drill monkey, manatec, white throated monkey and pigmy hippo. Heritage, cultural and archaeological sites.

Due to the importance the Nigerian government attaches to the tourism industry, the following strategies have been adopted. Government would ensure that the provision of basic infrastructural facilities, namely, good roads, water, electricity, communications and hotels, to centers of attraction, in order to accelerate their development for the purpose of exploiting fully their touristic value. To achieve this goal, the appropriate government agency responsible for tourism promotion and development, shall establish and maintain close liaison with other government agencies responsible for the provision of the infrastructure. The State government will provide land without any hindrance for tourism development at concessional rates and conditions favorable to investment and the realization of investment thereon. For orderly development of tourism and tourism product, it is mandatory for all state governments to demarcate potential Tourism Zones and their products from other usage, to avoid undue pollution.

In order to increase the involvement of the private sector in tourism, it is treated by the government as a preferred sector. The Nigerian Government has also introduced such incentives like tax holidays, tax rebate and soft loans, with a long period of grace to potential investors in tourism.

The government has also put in place certain laws and regulations, which govern the activities of this category of people involved in the industry, like hoteliers, travel agents, tour-operators, car hire services. This is to ensure that their conduct of the people belonging to this industry is not detrimental to the objectives of the industry and the security of the nation, as well as the tourists.

Energy Sector :