ABUJA, JUNE 17 – The Federal Government has called on Spanish investors to take advantage of the rich economic and business potential in the country and invest in its critical sectors.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the call on Friday in Abuja when the Spain Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Sebastian,
paid him a courtesy visit.
He said investors should look beyond the oil and gas sector and invest in other areas, particularly the tourism industry.
Mohammed disclosed that Spain relied on Nigeria for 10 per cent of its oil and eight per cent of its gas.
He added that there was a collaboration which lasted for over 10 years in the areas of photographic exhibition, arts and painting.
The minister called on potential investors from that country to take advantage of the strategic partnership between Nigeria and Spain for investments.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide the enabling environment and put the right policies in place for business to thrive.
He added that government had already put in place vigorous economic plans for investors.
He stressed that the country was safe but there was high level of exaggeration as to the report on insecurity, noting that “today, Nigeria may be having some pockets of challenges, but we are largely a very safe country.
“Nigeria has a promising economy. Nigeria is on track in the area of good governance and fighting insecurity .
“Nigeria still remains investors’ destination.”
The minister said he would use the opportunity of his visit to Spain on invitation of UN World Tourism Organisation to meet with Spanish investors willing to invest in tourism industry.
The minister presented a copy of Strategic Implementation Plans of 2016 Budget of Change to the envoy.
Earlier, Sebastian had said that Spain was second largest client of Nigeria in oil and gas and his country was proud of the relations between both countries.
The envoy said there were Spanish engineering companies working in Nigeria and some investors were in the process of establishing renewable solar energy plant in Kano.
He expressed the readiness of Spain to support Nigeria in confronting its challenges, stressing that no country was without challenges.
He added that “every nation has its challenges; terrorism, insecurity and corruption are not peculiar to Nigeria.
“There is corruption in Spain and that is responsible for what our country is passing through now.
“What is important is for us to build proper structures to tackle the challenges.”
The envoy noted that there were many Spanish investors willing to invest in Nigeria.
