The vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said revenue recently flowing into the nation’s treasury was majorly from non-oil and gas exports.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the spokesperson for the federal ministry of science, technology and innovation, Ms Josephine Ademu.
She said the vice president was speaking at the 51stAnnual International Conference/AGM of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCHE) held in Lagos yesterday.
Represented by the minister of science, technology and innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the vice president pointed out that the federal government had worked assiduously to ensure that the country achieves economic diversification.
He said that the nation could not afford to be taken off guard as crude oil and gas were no longer the major fuel that drives global economies.
According to him, this is due to the fact that more technologically developed nations of the world have switched to clean and renewable energy.
“Many countries in different continents are now preparing themselves to depend less on fossil fuels.
“Electric cars are found on roads and streets of many of the technologically developed countries of the world.
“This has sent a clear signal and a strong message that fossil fuels will not be as important as they are in years to come,” the vice-president said.
He stressed that Nigeria must prepare for the future where crude oil, which had been its major source of revenue, would no longer occupy prominent position in the economies of many nations.
He charged the Nigerian manufacturers stakeholders at the conference to produce almost everything needed in the country which would translate to less imports, a stronger currency and economy.
Earlier, the governor of Ogun State, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, in his goodwill message, lauded the theme of the conference as apt and pertinent.
Abiodun was represented by the state commissioner for transportation, Mr. Gbenga Dairo.
NAN
