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Tag: BUHARI

  • Democracy in danger under Buhari – PDP

    Democracy in danger under Buhari – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm over what it described as a huge threat to the nation’s democracy and danger posed to its peace, unity and progress by the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    At a meeting of its national caucus held at the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, Thursday night, the party alleged threats to the survival of democracy under President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by its National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, the PDP said critical state institutions have been compromised under the APC-led Federal Government.

    The party said the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have been politicised by the ruling party.

    It also alleged intimidation of the National Assembly and erosion of the “gains” recorded under the 16-reign of the PDP, vowing to “vigorously resist” such “undemocratic tendencies.”

    The communiqué said, “That the insensitivity of the ruling government to very critical issues being raised by the opposition is a huge threat to viable democracy and dangerous to the peace, unity and progress of the country.

    “The undue interferences by the executive arm of government on the activities of the judiciary, legislature and INEC using the Directorate of States Services (DSS) is clearly unacceptable to the PDP as well as the Nigerian people and the party resolved to vigorously resist such.

    “The PDP finds it offensive and provocative, the judiciary’s handling of cases involving it in election tribunals in some states, particularly, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Taraba, Ogun, Plateau and Lagos States.

    “The conclusive evidence of external influence on the Rivers State governorship election tribunal is the fact that it was able to deliver its judgment within 24 hours, in a case that had nearly 100 witnesses, 1,000 pieces of documentary evidences and nine counsel’s final written addresses, each not less than 40 pages.”

     

  • Stock market crash, political conflicts portend danger, says Buhari

    Stock market crash, political conflicts portend danger, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appealed to world and African leaders to unite to address stock market crash, political conflicts and terrorism.

    He cautioned developed nations against adopting double standards in their approach to globalisation.

    Buhari said there should be free movement of goods, services without any hindrance.

    He demanded reforms in global institutions because they were outdated and asked African leaders to develop a sense of urgency to tackle the continent’s challenges.

    Buhari, who raised the alarm in an address at the first plenary of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, said since nations were now interconnected, they should address global threats.

    “The international economic and political environment are far from being favourable, particularly for developing countries.

    “As the global economy appeared set to recover from the economic crisis, the positive trend is now threatened by the stock market collapse in some parts of the world and commodity crisis in others.

    “Fresh political conflicts have erupted, accentuated by terrorism and extremism in the most awful forms. Trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cyber crimes have added to the new global threats demanding our collective action.

    “Amid these challenges, we now have double standards in defining globalisation. We must collectively insist that globalisation as defined by the international community should mean free movement of goods, services and people without any hindrance or exception.

    “Furthermore, the world is facing the challenge of climate change in which Africa remains badly affected with severe threats to food security and social stability.”

    Buhari recommended the reformation of global institutions of governance.

    He said: “The global institutions of governance are outmoded and under extreme stress, calling for new approaches that reflect changing realities and shift of economic and political power.

    “From the West to the East, North to South, virtually every country in our respective regions is faced with unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment and a youth bulge.”

    On challenges facing Africa, Buhari asked the leaders of the continent to develop a sense of urgency to manage the

    He said: ‘’India and Africa must develop a new spirit of solidarity, cooperation and partnership to confront these emerging threats. We must recognise that in this globalised age, we all live interconnected lives in a fragile planet. We, must, therefore work together to uplift the lives of our people in a manner that preserves the sustainability of our living environment.

    “These challenges call for a renewed sense of urgency among African countries for economic development. It is an open secret that Africa possesses the prerequisites to become a major growth region of the world.

    “There is the need for India and Africa to strive together to build a virile framework for partnership and cooperation to address common challenges in key areas, including health, education, interconnectivity, power and employment generation as well as the strengthening of institutions of governance and democracy.

    The President recommended the involvement of the private sector in integrating the economies of Africa and India.

    Buhari said his administration was already refocusing governance in Nigeria in the interest of the citizens, adding:

    “This is why we have, since we assumed governance in Nigeria in May this year, embarked on re-focusing our governance to the real needs of Nigerians.”

    President John Dramana Mahami of Ghana asked the forum to address the energy crisis facing the rural folks in India and many countries in Africa.

    He said without energy, Africa could not develop as envisaged by the India-Africa Forum.

    The Ghanian leader said his country would be the first to sign up for the new initiative on solar energy.

    South Africa’s President Mr. Jacob Zuma called for collaboration to curtail terrorist threats and check the effects of climate change and poverty on the continent.

  • Crisis in states: Buhari will need Peter Obi

    There is crisis in the land; deep economic crisis. This is the reason why though one is truly constrained to cast the above headline because of its inherent political undercurrent, we all must remember that we have a country to run. We also have an economy to manage. And now that elections have been won and lost, if the good of the country is uppermost in our minds, we must forget about party lines and partisan politics and seek solution wherever we can find it.

    The stories emanating from states across the country are dire and dangerous. Most states are virtually on the verge of collapse. This is why the President and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), need to urgently switch to emergency mode as they fashion out a belated economic agenda. They must also build in a template for the states and local government areas to thrive.

    Three quick examples will suffice here to illustrate the utter hopelessness in states across the country. In Imo State, Southeast of Nigeria, the structures of governance have virtually collapsed. It is not only that different categories of workers and pensioners are owed months of pay, some do not even know what they earn anymore, as arbitrary deductions are levied each time government manages to pay.

    Last Monday, doctors and medical workers in public hospitals in the state reported for work to find that the government had ambushed them. Government’s vigilance group had barricaded public hospitals and locked out workers. The hospitals had been concessioned and forcefully acquired, they learnt.

    By last Monday, there were months of salary arrears; there were patients on admission requiring attention, there were patients bearing various ailments. They were all turned back. A certain concession agreement had become operational, somebody said and that ends it.

    In this state, the so-called revenue yielding agencies of government had been long abandoned to ‘fend’ for themselves. The governor simple declared that “we cannot be wasting public resources on people who are not productive; I cannot continue to give them subvention.”

    Is this any way to run a state? If agencies are not meeting performance expectations, are they not to be restructured for optimum results? Are they simply handed out to the so-called concessionaires or left to disintegrate?

    The local government system has long collapsed and most headquarters are overgrown with bush; their monthly allocation pocketed. Adapalm, Imo Transport Company and Concorde Hotels, which were up and running, have become moribund under Governor Okorocha. Now that the civil service too has almost crashed, the state is stark and barren like a homeless orphan. Even the bailout fund is being disbursed from the governor’s pocket. Meanwhile the governor is reportedly more liquid than the state. He is said to shuttle the globe frequently in chartered jets. Official profligacy and wastefulness thrive in a state that is deep in debt and almost failing. Call anyone you know in Imo State and all you will hear are ululations and cries of sorrow and anguish.

    In a recent interview, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had this to say about Gov. Okorocha: “Look at what is happening in Imo State, the situation is very sad and depressing. Governor (Rochas) Okorocha is not only owing workers’ salary, in Imo State, pensioners have not been paid for over a year…many of them are dying of hunger. We have written several letters to Okorocha, but he has not replied us. We are not going to fold our arms while workers are suffering in the state. We are going to shut down Imo State if that is what it will take to make Okorocha listen to the voice of reason.”

    In the Southwest of Nigeria and Oyo State to be precise, the state that prides itself on the agenda of free education, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has already introduced what is termed ‘development levy’ in public schools. At a recent event, the governor was recorded as saying that the N26billion bailout fund the state got was peanuts, as its outstanding wage bill was already over N21 billion.

    He said as soon as his government cleared most of the arrears, it would start owing once again, “as we will start to scramble for more money.”  He then reeled out the old litany: income (read federal allocation) has dropped to N3billion, monthly wage bill has shot up to N5billion and internally generated revenue (IGR) is N1billion; the state is therefore left with a monthly deficit of N1.8billion.

    This is the same tale-by-moonlight we have heard from Oyo and most other states in the last four years. Oyo has 33 LGAs, what about the billions of naira accruing to them monthly? How could a state the size of Oyo deign to earn N1 billion IGR monthly?  Without leaving one’s office in Lagos, one could raise N1 billion in Ibadan alone in one week.

    Four years ago when minimum wage was increased to N18,000, Gov. Ajimobi had let out the same lamentations about salary bills and deficits, but that same salary bill has almost doubled since then. What measures were put in place in the last four years to expand the economic base of a large state like Oyo? We often forget that the most imposing building in Ibadan, Cocoa House, was built from the proceeds of agric produce and not oil revenues. Cocoa has not stopped thriving in the west of Nigeria; countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast still subsist largely on cocoa.

    It would make interesting statistics to find out how much chicken is consumed in Oyo State daily, how much rice, how much milk, cocoa beverage, vegetable oil, tinned tomatoes, etc.? Most of these things are not produced in Oyo State; in fact most of them are smuggled from across the border. If Oyo State were a company with over five million mostly able-bodied and educated workers, would it be declaring a revenue of N1 billion monthly!

    In Benue State, the former governor, Gabriel Suswam, who ruled for eight years spoke recently, justifying why he left an empty treasury. According to him, if you depended solely on revenues from the federation account, you are bound to leave an empty treasury. Wow, how profound! He met an empty treasury, according to him and he left an empty treasury plus four months’ of salary arrears and a huge debt in billions of naira. Shouldn’t we therefore conclude that he is an empty fellow?

    Goodness gracious! How could a man run an entire state for eight years and all he could boast of is an empty treasury and huge debts. Benue State can feed the entire country down to the West Coast of Africa (with rice, beans, yam, potatoes, tomatoes, fruits, chicken, beef, milk, you name it) if perchance it finds a thinking governor someday.

    We can go on and on in almost every state. The leakages, the pilfering and the wanton wastefulness coupled with a lack of imagination to run a state and create wealth are beyond words. Instead, most governors hold their states by the jugular and make sure their economies suffer asphyxia. In most states, the entire people are made to breathe through the nose of the governor; that is the horror template.

    This column will never be tired of calling attention to the Peter Obi paradigm. And the President will do well to go beyond party politics and bring Obi to his corner. How did he do it? Anambra had less allocation than most other states, yet Obi never borrowed a dime in eight years. He left about N75 billion in cash and investment papers, he galvanised major investors to set up in the state (SABmiller, Innoson, Juhel); he invested heavily in education, health and roads.

    Today, Anambra is not part of the bailout crowd. Anambra is meeting its salary and pension obligations promptly? Nigeria will need to sit Peter Obi down and ask him how he did it?

  • How Nigeria can enjoy partnerships with other countries – Buhari

    How Nigeria can enjoy partnerships with other countries – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in New Delhi, India, said that Nigeria and other African countries must work harder to achieve greater political stability and security before they can enjoy the full benefits of partnership arrangements with other countries such as the India-Africa Forum.

    He made the remark while addressing the Plenary Session of the 3rd Summit of the Forum.

    Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that to attract the massive investment in-flows which they need to overcome the challenges of unemployment and wealth creation, Nigeria and other African countries must also establish policy environments that guarantee the sanctity of contracts on the basis of the rule of law.

    The President told the gathering that since its inception in May this year, his administration has been working with determination to establish these preconditions for rapid socio-economic development and refocus governance on the real needs of ordinary Nigerians.

    He said: “As a government, we have demonstrated our strong determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of our resources through accountability, transparency and result-orientation in governance.

    “We are confident that India, as a tested friend and dependable partner, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the discharge of the mandate entrusted to us by our people.”

    He expressed optimism that the India-Africa Forum will deepen, in practical terms, the South-South Cooperation that countries of the South have desired for so long.

     

  • Stock market crash, conflicts are dangerous signals – Buhari

    Stock market crash, conflicts are dangerous signals – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appealed to world and African leaders to come together to address stock market crash, political conflicts and terrorism which are threatening global peace.

    Buhari also cautioned developed nations against adopting double standards in their approach to globalization.

    He said there should be free movement of goods and services without any hindrance.

    He demanded reforms in global institutions because they are outdated.

    The President, however, asked African leaders to develop a sense of urgency to tackle the challenges facing the continent.

    Buhari, who raised the alarm in an address at the first plenary of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, said since nations are now interconnected, they should address global threats.

    He said, “The current international economic and political environment is far from being favourable, particularly for developing countries.

    “As the global economy appeared set to recover from the economic crisis of the recent past, the positive trend is now threatened by the current stock market collapse in some parts of the world and commodity crisis in others.

    “Fresh political conflicts have erupted, accentuated by terrorism and extremism in the most awful forms. Trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cyber crimes have all added to the new global threats that demand our collective action.

    “Amidst all these challenges we now have double standards in defining globalization. We must collectively insist that globalization as defined by the international community should mean free movement of goods, services and people without any hinderance or exception.

    “Furthermore, the world is facing the challenge of Climate Change in which Africa remains badly affected with severe threats to food security and social stability.”

    Buhari recommended the reformation of global institutions of governance.

    He added: “The global institutions of governance are outmoded and under extreme stress, calling for new approaches that reflect changing realities and shift of economic and political power.

    “From the West to the East, North to South, virtually every country in our respective regions is faced with unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment and a youth bulge.

    On challenges facing Africa, Buhari asked the leaders of the continent to develop a sense of urgency to manage them.

     

  • Economic policies may hurt ‘in short term’, says Buhari

    Economic policies may hurt ‘in short term’, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reviewed his administration’s economic policies, warning that they may be hurtful “in the short run”.

    In the long run, things will be better, the President said in New Delhi, India, where he is attending the Third Indian-Africa Forum. He was addressing the Chief Executives of Indian companies with interests in Nigeria.

    Despite the fall in oil prices, his administration, he said, remained committed to maintaining macro-economic stability and improving investors’ confidence in Nigeria.

    The economy, the President said, should not suffer unduly from low oil prices because Nigeria is blessed with human and material resources.

    “What is required of us, to which we are strongly committed, is the implementation of tight expenditure controls, effective fiscal and monetary policies, including the husbandry of scarce resources which our introduction of the Single Treasury Account has began to address.

    “We are aware some of these measures may hurt operations of some businesses in the short term, but we believe they are right for a sustainable economy,” he said.

    Stressing that India has been a dependable ally of Nigeria, Buhari urged the Chief Executives to expand their companies’ investments in Nigeria  ”so that we can, together, turn our engagements into a win-win situation for our two countries.”

    He added: “We can increase and diversify the current volume of our bilateral trade beyond US$16.36 billion, and diversify to other critical sectors such as agriculture; green technologies in power generation; infrastructure; information and communications technologies; the services sector; education; industry, especially textiles and solid minerals among others.”

    Buhari also urged the Indian CEOs to accept the changes in policy being introduced by his administration and observe all extant Nigerian laws in running their businesses in the country.

    The President warned that his administration would not tolerate the importation of sub-standard goods, especially foods and medicines, into Nigeria.

    The government’s plan to sustain the current naira value was criticised by Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II as unsustainable.

    He also warned against retaining petrol subsidy. But labour has taken the emir up on his position, saying  removal of subsidy and naira devaluation will hurt the poor.

    The President also yesterday had bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    India pledged to buy more oil from Nigeria without intermediaries to make the process more transparent.

    The Prime Minister begged Buhari to help repatriate India’s 11-man crew in detention in Nigeria.

    In the alternative, he surged that the trial of the crew can be fast tracked.

    Also, at a meeting with the Nigerian Community, Buhari said there was no going back on the trial of looters.

    He said his government may turn the tide against Boko Haram by the end of this year.

    The Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs,  Amb. Tanmay Lal, said: “The bilateral talks were smoother because the President of Nigeria has long-standing association with India. He trained in India when he was a military officer.

    “The President of Nigeria said India has become the largest oil importer of Nigeria’s crude oil, replacing the United States. There was discussion on oil sector in the meeting and the prospect of India buying more oil from Nigeria.

    “ Also there was strategic discussion on cooperation in the field of defence.

     ”The PM raised the specific issue of 11 crew members who have been in jail in Nigeria for some time. He made a personal request, if the judicial process can be expedited and if they can be repatriated. The Nigerian President said he will immediately look into it.”

    A high-ranking diplomat said: “The  Prime Minister said India is ready to double its oil imports from Nigeria if there is more transparency. The Indian government wants to buy directly from the Federal Government and pay through the Single Treasury Account (TSA) instead of the practice of directing us to intermediaries.”

    Buhari  also said there was no going back on his anti-graft war.

    He told the Nigerian Community in India: “We will continue to prosecute those who have been indicted for corrupt practices and ensure  that stolen funds are recovered, to serve as deterrent to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gain.

     ”The anti-corruption campaign will be on-going for many years. We are  committed to the enthronement of good governance that plugs the loopholes in public sector accounting, and the use of scarce resources for public good.

     ”We are determined to demonstrate exemplary leadership that will make our citizens to change their ways in a manner that lays a solid foundation for reconstruction and development.

     ”I am confident that our approach to fighting corruption through value re-orientation, improved internal processes and systems and  the rule of law, as well as  enhancing the capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions, will prove more enduring in addressing this evil.

     The President said he was aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him on the platform of change, integrity, probity and accountability, and was therefore doing his utmost best to meet those expectations.

     ”I wish to assure you that we shall do our best  to  fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves.

     ”On the economy, our aim is to address the challenge of infrastructure in all its ramifications, especially power and transportation. We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and the promotion of small scale enterprises.”

    “I wish to assure you that we shall do our best to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves.

    On Boko Haram, Buhari said: ”We are also  taking steps to address criminality across the country. We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed by Boko Haram head on and  I am pleased to note that though sporadic attacks on soft targets have not stopped, the over-all capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory and determine the course of the conflict has been severely degraded.

     ”If the current positive trends are maintained, we are confident that by the end of this year, we would have succeeded in permanently turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.”

  • Expert praises Buhari for restoring investors’ confidence

    Expert praises Buhari for restoring investors’ confidence

    Oil and Gas Council Managing Director, Drake Lawhead, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the transformation of the country’s  oil and gas industry, saying foreign investors are developing confidence in the economy.

    He said for decades, foreign firms which were considering doing business in the sector  accepted certain realities that their boards found difficult to accept. He said those problems were well-documented, and that they would apply to all  companies, adding that it is undeniable that Nigeria’s foreign direct investment has been hampered by the perception, corruption and theft.

    Such ingrained perceptions do not disappear overnight, but there is a change in mood about the prospects for cleaning up the business practices of the industry that have all happened on the back of President Muhammadu Buhari’s election.

    Lawhead said: “The people we speak to in London and in Asia have kept an eye on many of the reforms that are sweeping through the Energy sector in Nigeria. Things like the appointment of Dr Kachikwu and the wholesale change at the Director level at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and cancellation of contracts, etc., send a strong signal to companies here that Nigeria is serious about regaining the trust of the international business community. They are watching to see what happens now.”

    Lawhead added that President Buhari’s self-appointment as Oil Minister – something that is   unusual in Europe or America but which makes sense in Nigeria and for Buhari – has been viewed rather positively in the West; a sign that the President is serious about the importance of getting that sector right and has put himself in charge of it to make sure.

    Institutional change can be slow – there are too many vested interests that exist in bureaucracies for wide scale organisational change ever to be a simple matter. Yet, it does happen, it must happen for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to thrive as it deserves to, and the early signs are that things are changing – and importantly, it’s a change that has been noticed by the international business community.

  • Buhari meets Indian PM, says no going back on looters’ trial

    Buhari meets Indian PM, says no going back on looters’ trial

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday had bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi with oil market and defence cooperation topping the agenda.

    Despite the fall in oil prices, India pledged to buy more oil from Nigeria without intermediaries to make the process more transparent.

    The session was however emotional when the Indian PM begged Buhari to help repatriate the country’s 11-man crew in detention in Nigeria.

    In the alternative, Mr. Modi said he would appreciate if the trial of the crew can be expedited.

    Also, at a separate audience with Nigerian Community, Buhari said there was no going back on the trial of looters.

    He also said the war against Boko Haram was winnable.

    He said his government may turn the tide against Boko Haram by the end of this year.

    Buhari and Modi had talks behind closed doors on how to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

    Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the session, the Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Amb. Tanmay Lal said: “The bilateral talks were smoother because the President of Nigeria has long standing association. He had trained in India, when he was a military officer.

    “The President of Nigeria said that India has become largest oil importer of Nigeria’s crude oil by replacing the United States. There was discussion on oil sector in the meeting and the prospect of India buying more oil from Nigeria.

    “Also there was strategic discussion on cooperation in the field of defence.

    “The PM raised the specific issue of 11 crew members who have been in jail in Nigeria for some time. He made a personal request, if the judicial process can be expedited and if they can be repatriated. Nigerian President said that he will immediately look into it.”

    A high-ranking diplomat said: “The Prime Minister said India is ready to double its oil imports from Nigeria if there is more transparency. The Indian government wants to buy directly from the Federal Government and pay through the Single Treasury Account (TSA) instead of the practice of directing us to intermediaries.

    “So, we expect reforms which will facilitate transparent transaction in our oil business with Nigeria. The two leaders struck understanding in this regard.”

  • Buhari congratulates Ouattara on re-election

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday congratulated President Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire on his re-election for a second term in office.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also commended the people of Cote D’Ivoire for putting the unity, stability and progress of their country above all other interests.

    He applauded the peaceful conduct of the election, which President Ouattara won with almost 84 per cent of the votes.

    President Buhari believed that the relatively high turnout of voters, despite calls for a boycott, was a clear testimony of the commitment of the people of Cote D’Ivoire to peace, unity, stability and progress in their country.

    President Buhari trusted that President Ouattara in his second term will continue to do his best to foster national unity and faster socio-economic development for the benefit of all Ivoirians.

    He looked forward to continuing to work with President Ouattara to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire, and accelerate the pace of economic integration in the West African Sub-region.

  • Government’s policies right for economy – Buhari

    Government’s policies right for economy – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday maintained that despite the fall in oil prices, his administration remained fully committed to maintaining macro-economic stability and improving investor confidence in Nigeria.

    Speaking at an interactive session with Chief Executives of Indian companies with interests in Nigeria in New Delhi, President Buhari expressed belief that with abundance of human and material resources, the Nigerian economy does not have to suffer unduly from low oil prices, despite its severe impact on government revenues.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “What is required of us, to which we are strongly committed, is the implementation of tight expenditure controls, effective fiscal and monetary policies, including the husbandry of scarce resources which our introduction of the Single Treasury Account has began to address.

    “We are aware some of these measures may hurt operations of some businesses in the short term, but we believe they are right for a sustainable economy.”

    Stressing that India has been a dependable ally and friend of Nigeria, President Buhari urged the Chief Executives to expand their companies’ investments in Nigeria “so that we can together turn our engagements into a win-win situation for our two countries.”

    “We can increase and diversify the current volume of our bilateral trade beyond US$16.36 billion and diversify to other critical sectors such as agriculture, green technologies in power generation, infrastructure, information and communications technologies, the services sector, education, industry, especially textiles and solid minerals among others.”