FG will assist investors, Osinbajo assures UK ministers

UK Secretary of State  for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Boris Johnson (left); Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; UK Secretary of State  for International Development, Priti Patel and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma during a  meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja …yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide the enabling environment and necessary assistance to private investors in the country.

Osinbajo gave the assurance when a delegation of UK ministers led by British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.

Also at the meeting were Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.The Vice President said the relationship between Nigeria and United Kingdom is very important, assuring that “the next few years are certainly going to be more interesting.”

He said Nigeria has a huge potential and “investors would salivate if those potentials were realised.” According to him, the country is “close to the tipping point in terms of making that happen.”

He added that in terms of trade, Nigeria had no choice but to diversify from oil and now more attention is focused on agriculture, agro-processing and more interest in technology.

According to a statement by the Vice President, “UK are our natural partners and it is much easier for business because of the relationship over time and because of the r0bust presence of the UK here in Nigeria through the DFID which has been tremendously supportive.’’

In the area of housing, Prof. Osinbajo said Nigeria would be looking to partner with the United Kingdom, adding that government is interested in construction companies with the expertise and technical know-how to deliver mass housing projects across the country.

The Vice President, according to the statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, also emphasised the role of the private sector as well as the role of government in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.

He assured investors that the Federal Government is prepared to partner with them, provide assistance where necessary and solve the pr0blems as they emerge.

In his remarks, Johnson, observed that “Nigeria has an amazing future,” and as such, the United Kingdom is partnering with Nigeria in different areas including intelligence sharing in the fight against Terr0rism.

Johnson added that the UK is also working to build an economic partnership with Nigeria given the country’s status as the powerhouse of Africa and the biggest economy in the continent.Secretary of State for International Development, Priti Patel, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright and other top officials were on the entourage.

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