LINUS CHIBUIKE
THE Presidency, on Wednesday, said it had nothing to do with the ongoing amendment processes to the Nigerian Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act by the National Assembly.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who said this, however, noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved that the Second Peer Review Country Self-assessment Report should be conducted.
He spoke to State House Correspondents after the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President.
Adesina said only the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, could address the issue of the amendment.
“That is not strictly a Presidency thing because the President has nothing to do with that. It’s a government thing and it’s the Minister that can talk about it. So, thank you,” he said.
He added, “The only thing of interest I would like to talk about is the second Peer Review Country’s Self-assessment Report.
“Nigeria is ready for the second Peer Review Country Self -assessment Report to be done by AUDA-NEPAD. I think the last self-assessment report was done 10 years ago in Nigeria. Now, Nigeria is ready for the second review self-assessment report.
“It’s been discussed at the Council and the President has granted the approval that that peer review report can be conducted on Nigeria.
“Actually, if you have an insight into the report that was presented, which the woman in charge of NEPAD, Mrs. Akobundu, can give you, Nigeria has made progress in several areas and on several fronts.
“While 10 years ago, petroleum contributed more than 70%, even up to 90%, to GDP, you will find that today, petroleum contributes just about 45% and non-oil products contribute about 55% to the Nigerian economy.
“So, if Nigeria had been talking of diversification for 40, 50, 60 years, the economy can now be said to be diversified because our GDP, non-oil revenue, contributes about 55% to 45% of oil.”
“So, it’s one of the highlights of the Peer Review Country Self-assessment Report that was presented at the Council meeting today. Details of that can be gotten from the AUDA-NEPAD office,” the Presidential spokesperson noted.
