The President, represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said this during the first Bayelsa State Investment Forum in Yenagoa on Thursday.
The forum, with the theme, 'Unlocking Bayelsa economic potential:
Opportunities and Challenges; had in attendance the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke; Governor Seriake Dickson; Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; investors from Europe, Asia, Africa, among others.
Jonathan said, "Bayelsa must diversify its economic base; it should not focus on oil wealth. It should pay attention to agricultural, coastal landscape for tourism, maritime industry and new housing estate.
"The Federal Government will encourage home ownership through mortgages. The desire by the state government for development will be supported by the Federal Government."
The President said in order to realise the goal of the summit, there was the need to fill the gap between the potential and full realisation of the summit.
He advocated for peace in the country, stressing that without it there could not be any meaningful development.
He, therefore, urged Bayelsa to place unity above partisanship and internal division in their planning and development.
He said the Federal Government was not resting in its resolve to mobilise the people for development by ensuring peace and unity.
In his remarks, Dickson said his administration had made huge investment in security.
He said his administration had also invested in the social and economic sectors to reposition the state.
He, however, said the greatest challenge facing the state was human capital development.
Dickson said, "Today's programme is not going to be a talk show but basically a workshop to enlighten the potential businessmen and women on the need to diversify the economy."
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