With the deepening of the privatization of state enterprises and
\ninvestment in the development of critical infrastructure, Nigeria now
\noffers the best destination for investments in Africa, Delta State
\ngovernor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has said.<\/p>\n
Speaking in London where he addressed British investors at the Institute
\nof Directors (IOD), Uduaghan said the Nigerian government has effected a
\nparadigm shift from reliance on crude oil as the driver of the economy.
\nAccording to him, investment in power sector, agriculture and
\nmanufacturing offer investors new vistas with yields that may not be
\nobtainable anywhere else.<\/p>\n
He spoke in a keynote speech at an event marking the Commonwealth Day
\nObservance Service and the Nigerian Centenary celebration Tuesday in
\nLondon and asked British investors looking to invest in Africa to come to
\nNigeria.<\/p>\n
In Uduaghan\u2019s words, \u201cthere are strong reasons for anyone to invest in
\nNigeria at this time, because the country is a haven for profitable
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a bright future for Nigeria in terms of investment. The
\nenvironment is right and is truly a destination for those investors
\nheading to Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uduaghan who spoke on \u201cPerspectives on Sustainable Development in
\nNigeria\u2019s Delta: The Delta Beyond Oil Initiative\u201d said while oil remained
\na major resource, \u201cwe recognise its finite characteristic and that
\ndependence on it in the way we have done, since it started to create
\nwealth in the country would deny us other opportunities.<\/p>\n
In a press release issued in London by the Delta State Commissioner for
\nInformation, Chike Ogeah, who accompanied Uduaghan on the investment
\ndrive, the governor illustrated the concept of his Delta Beyond Oil
\ninitiative which has become a template for the transformation of Nigeria\u2019s
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
The initiative is designed to harness the potentials in other sectors of
\nthe economy to boost agriculture, boost small and medium scale enterprises
\nand create employment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that examples abound around the world of countries that have
\ntapped mainly human endowment to jump to the front ranks of societies in
\nthe world. The concept of Delta Beyond Oil was harnessed to mobilise the
\ncitizens, statesmen, lawmakers, civil servants, college professors,
\nstudents, professionals, farmers and artisans that oil and gas may be good
\nfor now, but the future belongs elsewhere in the powers of the mind to
\ngenerate wealth and well-being for ourselves and generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uduaghan said his government is providing enabling environment for
\ninvestment in Delta State by focusing on infrastructure and human capital
\ndevelopment as well as peace and security.
\nHe told British investors at the meeting that the federal government has
\nbeen of tremendous support to the state as part of a drive to attract
\nForeign Direct Investment (FDI) for the country as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Federal Government of Nigeria working closely with the Delta State
\nGovernment is also building a multi-million dollar landing jetty in
\nOkwagbe, a community located along the tributaries of the River Niger to
\nsupport the state\u2019s transport infrastructure,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
He listed one area where investors can partner with the state as tourism
\nsector. According to Uduaghan, investors are now taking the advantage of
\nthe peaceful environment in Delta State to invest in tourism.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing our sustained drive in this area, a lot of tourism and
\nhospitality industries are now springing up in the state. The biggest is
\nthe $240 million Delta Leisure Park by a private investor in partnership
\nwith the state government. We are also encouraging medical tourism by
\nimproving on the quality of secondary and tertiary hospitals just as we
\nare encouraging private investment in healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n
The IOD Director General, Simon Walker praised Uduaghan and other Nigerian
\nleaders effort at repositioning the country for the future, saying \u201cIt has
\nbeen remarkable one hundred years for Nigeria. It is befitting that during
\nthe centenary celebration we should celebrate Nigeria\u2019s economic progress,
\nthe demography, the opportunities and the challenges that Nigeria face. I
\nhave no doubt that during this century we will be talking about Nigeria as
\none of the largest economy of the world.<\/p>\n
I hope that our two countries can come together to take advantage of these
\nopportunities.<\/p>\n
Also, Lord Watson of Richmond said, the population of Nigeria and its
\ndiversity is what any investor should be concerned with. \u201cWhen people
\nthink about Nigeria, they don\u2019t think about the past, they focus entirely
\non its present. That is of great importance.\u00a0 The population and diversity
\nare source of strength for any nation. Nigeria and its dynamic growth and
\npopulation are something that is in the mind of everyone who thinks about
\nAfrica.\u201d<\/p>\n
He explored the relationship between Nigeria and United Kingdom as good
\nopportunity to consider by British investors saying, \u201cour two nations are
\ncharacterised by diversity. There is always a tension between diversity
\nand unity, but the truth is we must tolerate each other and move beyond
\ntolerance to protection.<\/p>\n
The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo who attended the event
\nimpressed the audience with the strides that Nigeria is making in the
\npower sector with the privatisation of the electricity company.<\/p>\n
He said that with the current investment in power plants in the country by
\nthe government and the private sector, in a few months the power
\ngeneration and distribution in the country will make Nigeria the best
\neconomy in Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With the deepening of the privatization of state enterprises and investment in the development of critical infrastructure, Nigeria now offers the best destination for investments in Africa, Delta State governor,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n