• “Let us prepare for Nigeria without oil”,

Jun 2, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday stressed the need for Nigeria to begin to diversify her economy saying it is time to begin to think of a Nigeria without oil.

Governor Fashola who spoke in his office while playing host to family members of the nation’s first Minister of Information, late Chief TOS Benson who paid hin an Appreciation Visit at the State House, Ikeja, said the nation should be more proactive rather than reactive in response to the rapid investments being made the world over in search of alternatives to oil as an energy source.

According to him, “Nigeria should begin to look at the real economy that tourism represents, to begin to diversify our income and employment generation sources away from oil and all of the traditional areas, especially at a time when I see great challenges for oil”.

The Governor suggested the development of what he called a consistent six month Tourism and Cultural Festival Calendar for the country covering known festivals and Tourism destinations like the Eyo Festival in Lagos State, Ikogosi in Ekiti State, Olumo in Ogun State, and Yankari and Argungu festivals, adding that this will signify the nation’s readiness to begin to look at the real economic potentials that Tourism represents.

Commending the recently held Eyo Festival in Lagos in honour of late Chief TOS Benson as a trail blazer in this direction, Governor Fashola said “I think as a people, we must become proactive rather than reactive to prepare for Nigeria without oil as from today and if the Eyo Festival has sent a strong signal that Lagos is ready to lead that off, I think that we are proud to have been the pioneers in some measurable corporate terms of that signal”.

The Governor said the last Eyo Festival also sent a strong message that the Public Service is a noble service, adding that this was the message the State Government successfully sent out in honouring the late elder statesman and eminent Lagosian.

“It is important to reinforce the message as we begin to rediscover ourselves again and as we lay new charges for ourselves that public service is a noble service and that every life that is positively touched by public service will forever remember all of those who played some role in changing our lives”, he said.

Warning that nothing should be done to change the status and character of the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of the festival, Governor Fashola declared, “The venue is one that holds a long history and origins and character of the people of Lagos. It used to be a famous Race Course.