We'll protect foreign investments in Nigeria ---Buhari
According to a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the
president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu,
Buhari gave the assurance at a bilateral
meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on the sidelines of the sixth
Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD, in Nairobi.
The president outlined several steps taken by his
administration to secure the country and ease doing business in Nigeria.
He also told the Japanese leader that ``with the defeat of the
Boko Haram terrorists by the military, attention of my administration is now
focused on stopping the destruction of the country's economic assets by
militants in the Niger Delta.”
He said that the militants must dialogue with the Federal
government or be dealt with in the same way like Boko Haram.
``We are talking to some of their leaders; we will deal with
them as we dealt with Boko Haram if they refuse to talk to us.
``As a government, we know our responsibility, which is to
secure the environment. It is clear to us that lenders won't fund projects in
insecure environments.
``We realize that we have to secure the country before we
can efficiently manage it,’’ Buhari said.
According to him, the security in the Gulf of Guinea, which
is greatly affected by piracy and armed robbery at sea, is a priority for the
Nigerian government.
``We have provided funds to our Navy to buy new platforms,
train and effectively organize the personnel to protect the area. We are
looking forward to support from developed nations for satellite surveillance
covering the Gulf.’’
Buhari recalled his audience with G7 leaders in Germany, and
thanked Japan for responding positively to Nigeria’s requests for the
rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and rebuilding of infrastructure in the
North-East of the country.
He, however, stated that there was still more to do on
education, health and other infrastructure to ensure quick and voluntary return
of displaced persons to their communities.
On the United Nations Security Council reform, the president
agreed to work with Japan for the reforms, stressing that the case for a
permanent seat for Africa on the council was a moral one.
He also expressed Nigeria's support for Japan in its bid for
a UN resolution on the problems in East China and South China as well as the
``uncontrolled nuclear tests by North Korea.’’
According to him, the UN system is sufficient for the
resolutions of all disputes and no nation should be above the United Nations.
``This has to be made absolutely clear and I assure the
prime minister that I will meet as many leaders as possible at the forthcoming
UN General Assembly concerning the issues,’’ he added.
In his remarks, Abe congratulated Buhari “for courageously
tackling Boko Haram terrorism."
He said Nigeria and Japan must work together to improve the
investment climate in view of the many Japanese companies wishing to invest in
Nigeria.
Abe reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to rapid development in
Nigeria through quality delivery of ongoing projects in the country, including
Jebba hydro power scheme and the Lagos railway project.
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