Abuja, June 21, 2023 – Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, says Nigeria is now highly regarded by his country due to the recent economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu.
He said his country now considered Nigeria a big opportunity going forward.
Montgomery expressed these sentiments while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
He said the feedback he was receiving from his government and business community showed that the first few steps of this administration were being highly praised and well received globally.
Montgomery said his discussion with the vice president identified the shocks associated with government’s decisions and the right steps toward easing them.
He said that these decisions were needed and had placed Nigeria on higher growth path.
“I think we already have a good economic dialogue, but I think there is a great potential to do more.
“As I discussed with His Excellency, the big economic decisions being taken by this government are really important and are being noticed around the world.
“The removal of subsidies, the exchange rate reform and all of that have created a much better investment environment.
“I was in London last week. I was briefing my ministers, but I was also talking to British business in finance, banking and investment sectors, they are all responding very positively to these first decisions.
“We know that there are tough times that are going on at the moment, inflation and unemployment. The Vice President and I also touched on some of the measures that might be possible to cushion the blow of some of these economic pressures.
“But I think the big issue is that these reforms help put Nigeria on a higher growth path, they will attract more investments and the United Kingdom and the city of London see Nigeria as a big opportunity going forward.
“I will be doing my part to try to boost those, enhance trade and investment,” he said.
Montgomery said the ban on students coming in with dependents was not targeted at only Nigerians.
He said Nigerians entering the UK were taking more than 10 per cent of the total number of immigrants into the country, adding the number of Nigerians entering had increased by five-fold in the last three years. (GBN)
