Aliu Baiwa is the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Trade Centre Dubai, an organisation that promotes trade and business development opportunities across the entire Gulf Regions and Middle East. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, he shares his experiences marketing Nigeria as the preferred investment destination vis-a-vis challenges of bureaucracy, amongst other related matters. Excerpts:
What’s the whole idea about the Nigerian Trade Centre Dubai (NTC)?
The Nigerian Trade Centre is about promoting Nigerian business opportunities across the entire Gulf Regions and Middle East, mainly non- oil products and services. The Trade Centre came into existence in 2005, before the Nigerian Embassy, upon the request of the Nigerian-UAE Chambers of Commerce Industry and Agriculture as a bilateral trade office in Dubai. According to Dubai business regulation, the Nigerian Trade Centre is considered as a trade and business development liaison office that will promote Nigeria. It was later transferred to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment by the Presidential Order issued on 14th May 2012 by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, then president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Presidential Order Illustrated the responsibility of the centre to include marketing Nigeria as the preferred investment destination, promotion of non oil exports products to the international market, organising business fora in countries and regions of accreditation as well as seeking joint venture cooperation of credible Nigerian businesses. Besides, it helps with organising inwards and outward business missions, assisting Nigerian businessmen to acquire capital machinery for their manufacturing firms, attending to trade information and complaint enquiries in order to assure Nigerian trading partners of the credibility or otherwise of the enterprises they want to do business with, and initiating Memoranda of Understanding between some public and private institutions in Nigeria and their counterparts in countries within the region of accreditation.
What are the opportunities for inflow of foreign investment from UAE to Nigeria?
Nigeria is one of the top major business partners of United Arab Emirates in trade export and services. UAE has been benefiting from the huge purchase of goods and services by Nigerians, this has affected the trade imbalance between Dubai Unite Arab Emirates and Nigeria 65% to 35% in favour of Dubai United Arab Emirates. Nigeria, being one of the biggest markets with over 180 million population with large deposit of natural resources, which include industrial precious minerals and agricultural products, is an advantage for any investor to look at the Nigerian economy and also the recent signing of the bilateral agreement Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection ,Judicial Agreement on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters and Mutual legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, between the two countries and transparent leadership of the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Why have we not seen such remarkable inflow of foreign investments from UAE and other Gulf countries in Nigeria?
Many reasons can be attributed to that. I will mention a few major ones that have hinged the inflow of investment to Nigeria despite my effort to convince many companies that were doing very good in the UAE. There were no encouragement and cooperation from the Nigerian Embassy to the Nigerian Trade Centre, Dubai, especially during the period of the two previous ambassadors. They were not ready to cooperate with us in bringing some more than 450 Nigerian companies that were operating in Dubai and the other emirates that were interested in Nigeria. Some of these companies have been operating for over 25 years in UAE.
Majority of these companies in the UAE are still interested in investing in the Nigerian market, as most of their services or products are being purchased by Nigerians. It took me time and follow up to convince many companies and investors to invest in Nigeria. These three companies that decided to show their presence in Nigeria and many others was when NTC Dubai was functioning well. KPMG is one of the top audit companies in the world, G4S Group a security company and UAE Exchange company which is one of the largest money exchange companies in the gulf, to mention a few. Nigerian companies should use this bilateral agreement’s opportunity to engage in joint ventures with companies in the UAE.
What is the status of the Nigerian Trade Centre (NTC Dubai) now, especially with the controversies surrounding it?
The status of the Nigerian Trade Centre is pending as we can not renew our trade license despite the presidential order by the former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan since 2014. The reason was when Ambassador Awalu Ibrahim wrote a letter to the Dubai Chambers of Commerce not to renew our trade license, that the said office has been moved to Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi as (RTO) which was the initial approval of the Nigerian Trade Centre in Dubai. The previous administration at the Nigerian Embassy deceived the then government that it was establishing a Regional Trade Office but collected money from the government without doing anything.
During the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, $1million was approved for the upgrade and compensation of the Nigerian Trade Centre, Dubai, for payment of all the liabilities. But the past administration embezzled this. They collected money with the pretense of establishing the fraudulent Nigerian Trade Mission in Dubai, which was never established until 2013 when the Nigerian Consulate was opened in Dubai. I have document and audio recording to prove that. I wrote petition to the EFCC in 2016, up till now nothing has been done. One thing you cannot do here in Dubai is to fake a document or lie because everything here is connected to the system and cameras are all over the place. I am appealing to the federal government and EFCC to look into this fraudulent act committed in Dubai and investigate this case of over $2 million which has been stolen by some corrupt past officials.
Nigeria and UAE recently signed a bilateral agreement on anti–corruption, as an insider how significant is this?
In fact, this is one of the greatest achievements I will say this government has done in terms of tackling corruption. If there is any hope I have today as a patriotic Nigerian is the signing of this Nigerian United Arab Emirates agreement by the two countries, because before the agreement Nigerian government could not act or do anything regarding confiscation or repatriation of cash and asset by all means. I say nothing could be achieved in terms of recovery of Nigerian looted funds without this agreement; also the trade advantage that Nigerian government will benefit. With this progress, I strongly believe President Buhari is serious and willing to make Nigeria a great country again. The president should make sure the issue of Dubai United Arab Emirates and other countries are monitored vigorously and mandate the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to expedite all cases and effect the executive order within the shortest time especially with the information the minister has and the EFCC records. In one of my meetings with the Honorable Minister of Justice in Dubai, it has given me confidence he will not fail the president in this task and in the fight against corruption, being the chief law officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We have seen whistle blowers helping the government to uncover frauds locally, why have we not seen such whistle blowers in foreign countries like UAE and other countries where many believe some corrupt Nigerians have stashed stolen wealth?
Yes, you are right. The reason why there was no whistle blowing from UAE and other counties was due to the absence of bilateral agreement between those countries and Nigeria, but with the recent signing of this agreement between Nigeria and UAE, I am very optimistic of a good response from those that have information, especially now that the president has signed the Executive Order and the ratification of Nigeria UAE agreement recently. There are many properties and stolen money kept outside Nigeria which if recovered will have a big impact on the development of infrastructure in the country. I assure you very soon Nigerians will hear some whistle blowing from Dubai UAE.
If you are to meet President Muhammadu Buhari what advice will you give to him on anti-corruption campaign and national development?
Corruption is one of the biggest epidemics globally. It’s very difficult to stop corruption at once but certain measures could be adopted to reduce it and this I have seen the effort being taken by the president, especially the TSA and BVN systems. Most of this corruption is perpetrated by some government officials, therefore there is need to computerise all government offices with computers and introduce EFCC, ICPC and DSS officers at all levels of government offices not limited to universities, schools and hospitals. My simple advice to President Muhammadu Buhari is to always engage people of good character and God-fearing. In the fight against corruption, it’s not too late for the government to introduce some economic relief by creating small scale entrepreneurship that will engage the youths and women. If people have jobs, especially the youths, the crime rate will reduce and corruption will be controlled. Besides, government should introduce loan programmes for graduates and school leavers. Rural women should be empowered to go into agriculture and animal husbandry at all levels from state to local government levels; this will reduce corruption. Government should provide lands and necessary implements to encourage the youths in economic development. Bribery is just one form of corruption among many people, especially the poor get hurt when resources are wasted.
It has been alleged that you were out to merely smear people, how will you react to this?
I actually don’t understand about smearing people. I have great respects for my elders and other statesmen. But I must make some points clear that people should know and understand, first, the concept of Nigerian UAE Chambers of Commerce was my proposal and idea so anybody today in this organisation was brought by me. Therefore, nobody has the right to push me out or hijack my project. Some people tried to blackmail me but I have refused to budge on their antics. In the fullness of time, I will expose them with facts and figures. For those who are making unfounded allegations, they should know that for any person to make any allegation he must have facts, otherwise the allegation is baseless.
Also, those claiming that they gave me money apart from their contribution of setting Nigerian Trade Centre office in Dubai, should please make it a public document or rather file a case with the police anywhere.
What is your assessment of the current anti-corruption effort of the Nigerian government?
The assessment is not bad but government has to be more pro-active in the ant-corruption efforts through the adaptation of modern technology in all the government offices and department. There should be a good system that will allow access to information by every individual who needs to know of government activities. Each government department should be computerised from the local government to the federal government level, though the electricity is another factor that has to be addressed with modern innovation technology and solution. The use of solar system can be an advantage to power government offices as this will serve as backup system. The deployment of EFCC, ICPC and other security agency at all government levels from local government to federal level will have an effect in controlling or reducing corruption in our society.
The media industry will be more effective in the fight against corruption if the government and citizens will give them support in fighting bribery and corruption. For any physical development to be achieved by any government worldwide, the media is the backbone. I would advise all the Nigerian media companies (print and electronic) to be sending their staff to countries around the world to gather news and information.
Given your exposure, how can Nigeria unlock the huge potential of its non oil natural resources?
I remember in one of my meetings with the then minister of trade and investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, after the presidential order transferring the function of Nigerian Trade Centre Dubai office to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in 2012, his request to me was I should give him a comprehensive report on how to unlock the potential of the non oil resources of Nigeria in the gulf and Asian markets. In my report to him, my advice to him was to first establish an export house in Dubai, India, China and United States, which are the biggest trading partners for Nigeria. The approval by former President Goodluck Jonathan to open the (RTOs) offices was my proposal. This will allow or give access for Nigerian products to the international market for the non oil resources, and that will add more revenue to the Nigerian economy. NEPC and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, which are both agencies under the ministry of trade and investment that are overseeing the export of commodities and the standardisation of goods for export that will be supporting the Nigerian exports houses especially in Dubai, with the advantage of Jabal Ali Port, the biggest man-made port and Al Maktoum Airport as the largest cargo airport; this will serve as connecting link for the Nigeria export Hhuse Dubai to the international market for Nigerian goods and generate millions of dollars for the Nigerian government. Those export houses today would have been a supporting channel to oil and stabilise the exchange rate of the dollar. The export of industrial and solid minerals could have added 40% of the crude oil revenue, and export of agricultural product, e.g .cashew nuts, sesame seeds, which if the oil is beinn extracted for export will fetch foreign exchange close to crude oil price. A litre of sesame seed oil in UAE and USA is around five dollars, if you multiply this by one barrel, which is 208 litres, it comes to $1040. Nigeria is not poor considering the over 105 resources God has given Nigeria that will earn more foreign exchange for the county. We need to wake up from our slumber and move forward and stop killing ourselves. Finally, I want to use this opportunity to once again plead with the Honourable Minister of Justice and Anthony General of the Federation, to please present my case to the president as promised, with all the documents he collected from me regarding the Nigerian Trade Centre Dubai.