Abuja, Dec. 4, 2023 – The United States (U.S.) has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for taking bold steps at bolstering the economy and ensure sustainable growth and development.
David Greene, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said U.S investors were delighted by the economic agenda of the current administration, recalling President Tinubu’s visit to New York during the last United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which attracted officials of the Commerce of Cooperation of the U.S. Trade and Investment.
The envoy said although the Federal Government was putting measures in place to stabilise the economy, more should be done to create an environment that would attract investors to the country.
He said there had been great enthusiasm from American investors towards Nigeria, stressing that such interest was a testimony to the commitment that the President Bola Tinubu administration had made towards strengthening the economy.
“We support the fact that the Tinubu administration is trying to create the fundamentals that will allow foreign direct investment, attract investors, and drive economic growth.
“We are also doing our part as the U.S. government to observe and understand the challenges, see how we could help, and presumably, talk up Nigeria a little bit in the global market and international markets.
“When Tinubu was in New York at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he rang the closing bell at the world’s second largest stock exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ), his visit attracted officials of the Commerce of Cooperation of the U.S. Trade and Investment.
“They demonstrated a high level of interest in Nigeria. Sponsored by Prosper Africa Programme, a major institution of investors in the U.S. set to manage billions of dollars of Pension Funds, they were there because everybody knows Nigeria is a place of great potential.
“So, I think that potential is visible; I think people are excited. There is a high level of interest.”
Greene assured Nigeria of the U.S. government’s commitment to doing all it could to draw investors to the West African country to see the opportunities available and, possibly, rely on partner businesses.
The envoy emphasised the need for the Federal Government to create an environment conducive for businesses to thrive, noting that as the largest economy in Africa with 60 per cent of its population under the age of 25, such an environment could contribute dramatically to transforming its economy.
The envoy also gave an assurance of United States’ commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria to help the country realise its economic diversification goals.
“One of the things to note is that the President Bola Tinubu administration must create an enabling environment to address the challenges that are facing Nigeria.
“This is crucial so that business operators and investors will feel more able to take advantage of the opportunities that Nigeria presents.
“When you are talking about creating opportunities and helping in supporting Nigeria, last fiscal year the U.S. provided $1.2 billion to assist Nigeria across all areas.
“This includes humanitarian assistance, an enormous health programme, work to strengthen the availability of power and electricity to Nigerian citizens, transition to green energy, and up to climate issues, and improving the education system.
“The U.S. government is investing a lot in Nigeria because of the importance of these issues and to help Nigeria over the challenges,” he added. (NAN)
