By Turaki Adamu Hassan,
Special Adviser to the Speaker (Media & Public Affairs )
…woos Italian businessmen to invest in Nigeria
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged Italian business community to take advantage of the ongoing reforms by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to invest in Nigeria.
Dogara spoke in Rome, Italy when he met with leaders of Nigerian community in Italy and some Italian businessmen at a meeting organised by the Nigerian ambassador to Italy, Yusuf Jonga Hinna.
Hon. Dogara told the Italian business community and friends of Nigeria that the National Assembly has passed a number of laws seeking to promote ease of doing business in the country in addition to other Executive measures taken by the President.
“We passed a record number of bills within the shortest time to ease business condition in Nigeria.
“The whole environment is rife for foreign investors to exploit and the time is now.”
“There are other areas outside oil such as agriculture and tourism as we move to diversify our economy. I urge you all to tell this good news to others who are not here today that their investments are safe in Nigeria. That Nigeria is now rife for businesses to thrive. ”
“This year we have had significant inflow of a Foreign Direct Investment. The investment climate is very conductive and you have a partner in us as the legislature you can reach out to us for interventions in areas you find difficulties.”
Hon Dogara further disclosed that the government had also constituted a presidential committee on ease of doing business for which he is also a member; even though he is in the legislature.
On the security front, the Speaker assured the Italian business community that a lot of progress has been achieved in dislodging the terrorist especially in the north east.
“Insecurity was a greater concern of investors coming to Nigeria…you may have had that even though there are pockets of attacks by terrorists, they have been dislodged and decimated. If you are fighting an ideology it takes time to win. There has been upsurge in number of arrest and prosecutions.”
He noted that the present administration was committed to expanding opportunities for all citizens to have a decent life.
He charged Nigerians living in Italy, whom he described as “unofficial ambassadors” of Nigeria” to be law abiding and not do anything that will damage the reputation of the country saying, “ambassadors don’t bring dishonour to their country. ”
“All of you Nigerians in Italy are our ambassadors. Nigerians in diaspora have done a lot back home. Some months ago we celebrated one of us who is in the USA on the floor of the House of Representatives. I enjoin you to exhibit the best of Nigeria and not the worst of us. No country is an aggregation of angels. In all countries of the world we have the good, the bad and the ugly. You are here as our best and try to do your best and dedicate yourselves to the ideals that your home country promotes ”
Speaking earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Yusuf Jonga Hinna, commended the Speaker for providing purposeful leadership in the House of Representatives.