Gbenga Daniel Urges Government To Explore Housing And Agriculture Sectors

Speaking at the Institute of Directors, IOD annual Dinner, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel reiterated the need to shift attention from the dwindling oil  sector, noting  that the country had attained the level where the issue of unemployment should not be a social problem considering its numerous opportunities and resources.
He called on the present administration to explore the Housing And Agriculture Sectors, as heavy and well managed investment in the sectors would provide the needed recovery in the employment market.

“My formular to dealing with the unemployment in the country is the development of two key sectors: Construction and Agriculture. For instance, if the construction industry gets adequate attention in terms of investment, the multiplier effect will be limitless because construction affects everybody. In Nigeria today, the demand for construction is more than enough .if the government should deliver up to a million houses, then it will automatically create about 8 million direct jobs, and looking at the multiplier effect of those who will benefit from the direct jobs, then we should be looking at 24 million jobs or more. If 24 million people are taken out of the unemployment market, then, the country is relieved.

“The same thing goes to the Agriculture sector, the sector boasts of numerous job prospects only if it is given the required attention”, he said.

The former Ogun State governor also pleaded with private sector to join hands with the public sector in bringing about an unemployment free Nigeria, adding that the nation could only move forward with the collaboration of the two sectors.