Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday assured visiting delegation of Ministers from the United Kingdom, led by British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is keen on private sector partnership following which it is willing to provide necessary assistance to those ready to invest in the country.
He assured that “the next few years are certainly going to be more interesting” for Nigeria, given its huge potential and that “investors would salivate if those potentials were realised” because the country is “close to the tipping point in terms of making that happen”.
The Vice President assured members of the delegation who were on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, 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 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 robust presence of the UK here in Nigeria through the DFID which has been tremendously supportive’’.
In the area of housing, Prof. Osinbajo stated that 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.
He also emphasized 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 problems as they emerge.
In his own remarks, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Boris Johnson, who observed that “Nigeria has an amazing future”, stated that the United Kingdom is partnering with Nigeria in different areas including intelligence sharing in the fight against terrorism.
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.
Osinbajo was joined at the meeting by Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.
Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, Paul Arkwright, British High Commissioner to Nigeria and other top officials were on the visit to the Presidential Villa.