* Seeks local, foreign investments in agric
From Nudoiba Ojen
The Federal Government has charged local and foreign investors to make Nigeria their investment hub.
This, the government says, is in view of the country’s potentials, endowments and the President Bola Tinubu’s determination to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who spoke in Abuja while playing host to the management of First Surat Group as well as top management of MTN Nigeria, said, “The Tinubu administration is willing to partner with various stakeholders in the quest to help boost the nation’s productivity base and generate rapid employment”.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, said Nigeria had huge investment potentials in agriculture, which needed to be exploited by both local and foreign investors with assurance of conducive business environment.
The Vice President lauded the professionalism and devotion of Surat Group, which runs Nizamiye Hospital, Nizamiye Foundation, as well as its educational institutions, saying that by extension, the group, with its 2,500 staff strength, “caters for over 100,000 extended families and dependants”.
He told the group, “Agriculture remains key to the Nigerian economy. You may wish to consider divesting from the health and education sectors where you have distinguished yourself and delve into agric business where we have huge investment potential.
“I assure you that my principal is creating the right environment for businesses to thrive. Property rights will be enforced and no one will be deprived of their rights. We need foreign direct investment right now more than ever before. Reach out to us and we will support you to succeed,” Shettima promised.
While addressing MTN Nigeria, the VP assured the telecoms giant of Federal Government’s commitment to removing all obstacles militating against businesses.
Shettima said gone were the days of double taxation and unnecessary bottlenecks, adding that President Tinubu’s policy on the ease of doing business would be carried to the letter.
Promising that Nigeria’s economy would pick up massively in less than 15 months, he charged the telecommunication giant to consider fastracking digital mobile money, as well as digital education in Nigeria.
“I have never seen anyone committed to revamping Nigeria’s economy like President Tinubu. Yes, we may be facing challenges, but believe me, in no distant time the country will be better off for it”, the VP promised.
Earlier, Chairman of First Surat Group, Dr Ali Maina, thanked the VP, just as he said aside from the company’s vast interest and strategic partnerships, its corporate social responsibility had seen it investing millions of naira on the lives and welfare of Nigerians.
On his part, the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Ernest Ndukwe, and Chief Executive Officer, Karl Olutokun Toriola, said the telecoms firm remained committed to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
They promised that in no distant time, MTN Nigeria will birth the much needed 5D network in Nigeria
