Senator Ben Bruce representing Bayelsa east senatorial district on Wednesday, April 13 said Nigeria is broke.
He made this statement while contributing on the floor of the Senate on a bill seeking to promote locally made products to boost the economy.
“I think the public needs to understand hat we mean by made in Nigeria products. People complain about nigerian made products because they might be inferior.
“But if you buy goods at the market price, it will be better. Nigeria is a broke country and that is good because when you are broke, you work.
“Nigeria is a very lazy country. There is no easy way to solve this problem,” he said.
The bill is titled a bill for an act to amend the public procurement act to provide for ans adopt a local content policy and timely completion of procurement and for other related matters, 2016.
The sponsor of the bill, Sam Egwu representing Ebonyi north senatorial district urged his colleagues to support the bill to give the legal backing of locally produced goods to boost the country’s economy.
“I forsee a future where graduating students will easily be absorbed by industries manufacturing locally.
“The time is act is now as the reliance on imported goods will worsen the economy,” he said.
He urged his colleagues to support the bill to give the legal backing of locally produced goods.
Also, he commended Bukola Saraki, the Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, Ben Bruce and himself for patronising locally made goods, and urged Nigerians to do the same.
Ajayi Borrofice representing Ondo north senatorial district who supported the bill also made his contributions saying that if the bill is passed, it will help instill some discipline in us in this country
The 8th Senate has been lobbying for diversification of the economy since its inauguration.
Recall that Sen Abaribe who organised the Made in Aba trade fair stressed the determination of the Senate to amend the relevant sections of the Procurement Act in favour of local manufacturers in view of the fall in government revenue.
He also added that it was time for the country to revolutionise and local manufactures to be encouraged and patronized.
However, Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, said he is happy that the public procurement act is in the process of being amended to encourage Nigerian industries through the purchase of locally produced goods.
After receiving the 29 Made-In-Nigeria fabrics designed for him, the Senate President said he would spread the message to all his colleagues in both chambers to begin to patronize made in Nigeria products.
