Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s recent working visit to the UK will not be forgotten in a long time because of the tremendous impact it had on propping up Nigeria’s international profile through the very assertive confidence building engagements and declarations by the VP. It was definitely a welcome initiative of the Vice President to embark on such a profound international mission for Nigeria that turned out to be a befitting re-affirmation of the dynamism of the nation’s determination not only to maintain its sovereignty but to also occupy its rightful place on the world scene, coinciding aptly with it 50th Independence Anniversary. Diplomatic correspondents have responded positively to this development even as they rightly remarked that Vice President Namadi Sambo displayed an irrepressible conviction about the huge emerging economic potentials of Nigeria propelling it onto the centre stage of world affairs much sooner than anticipated. 

At the top of the VP’s international diplomatic crusade was the bold and unassailable demand he made at the lecture organized by the International Relations Society at the Oxford University, United Kingdom for Nigeria to be in the G20 elite group of leading nations of the world in due recognition of the outstanding role Nigeria has been playing both as a regional and international major force to reckon with in various world affairs. The Vice President told the gathering of international relations students and investors that Nigeria has undertaken tasks and incurred huge costs  in financial, material and human terms to strengthen international peace and security which eminently qualified it to be actively involved as a

full-fledged member at important global policy formulating bodies such as the G20. He tactfully recalled the nationalistic declaration that Nigeria has come of age to underscore the justification for immediate inclusion of the country in the G20 pointing out that its economic growth and bright prospects as an emerging world power informed the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 Programme by which the country is determined to be among the world’s top 20 world economies by the year 2020.

The VP further emphasized recent positive indicators of Nigeria’s progress and huge international investment potentials including the obvious economic advantages of a big market of “over 150million friendly people, blessed with abundant petroleum and solid mineral resources” as well as the country’s recent economic and political reforms that have drastically improved corporate governance and political  prospects. He drew attention to the fact that despite global economic crisis, Nigeria continued to retain its free enterprise and private-sector friendly economy and restored stability and credibility to its financial system with corresponding profitable returns on investment. He then urged international investors to support Nigeria’s progressive stance by taking full advantage of new measures and policies

introduced to institutionalize investment friendly visa regime and liberalize immigration rules, pointing out that Nigeria was als fully aware of the need for foreign investors and development partners to complement government efforts to achieve objectives for joining the league of the 20 most industrialized countries by the year 2020.

As the veritable arrow head of the nation’s ambitious and impactful power sector resuscitation and reform agenda which is progressing steadily, it was no surprise that the Vice President also dwelt extensively on the major

thrusts of this resolve at appropriate functions that would get the message across to relevant investment and development interest groups in the UK and Europe. He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to reforms of the power sector as a critical factor in the envisaged transformation of the national economy, stressing that the target is an increase of generation to 10,000MW by the end of 2011 and 30,000MW by 2020.

In pursuit of this national objective also Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo met with the British Minister of African Affairs, Mr. Henry Bellingham, MP and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister) in the Department For International Development (DFID), Mr. Stephen O’Brien, MP, where he expressed Government’s determination to intensify bilateral relations with key countries especially the United Kingdom (UK) in its bid

to address pressing issues of Nigeria’s development, the ongoing power sector reforms. The Prime Minister was optimistic that in spite of their austere measures currently in place, the UK will channel resources in the direction of the Power Reform.  He also sought the support of the country towards their bid to host the World Cup. Significantly, the Commonwealth

Business Council (CBC) gave a luncheon in honour of the Vice President at the Reform Club, London where he again promoted Nigeria as a power investor’s haven with millions of potential power consumers that should be of great interest at the major power summit taking place in London in March next year where case studies on the sector’s reforms will be examined and investment opportunities made known to high level delegates.  Here again he

scored a major for Nigeria as the club members have pledged to invest huge sums of money in the ongoing Power Sector Reform.

Despite the evident success of the Vice President’s international diplomatic efforts to enhance Nigeria’s world status and attract strategic investment and development partnerships in support of ongoing power sector reforms, Nigeria’s unfolding political and governance transformation and entrenchment of democratic values was also presented to the world with the VP’s confident reassurances about the Federal Government’s commitment to the conduct of free and fair election since the success of government’s policies and programmes depend on popular participation. He also highlighted intensified efforts to stamp out corruption and improve on the provision of infrastructure, transportation network, functional educational institutions, effective health system and security as the rationale for the Goodluck/Sambo

administration’s decision to be available and willing to serve Nigeria beyond 2011 for progress achieved.

Nigerians in Diaspora in general were also carried along in the VP’s UK visit agenda which took him to a special community event held on October 23, to mark Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary by Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom (UK), which he attended on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan where he assured them that the Federal Government will ensure and enable their participation in Nigeria’s elections in 2015. He also updated them on the economic, social and political reforms embarked upon by the

present administration to reposition the country for greatness. While appreciating their individual and collective contributions in various ways to the development of the nation, he appealed to them to be good ambassadors and remain optimistic about Nigeria’s bright future.

Expectedly, one could only wish for such future trips as this brief review of the itinerary and pronouncements of Vice President Namadi/Sambo during his last UK visit has power beyond doubt that this was not the usual jamboree journeys our past leaders embarked upon in the name of “official visit” to foreign nations but an intelligent international mission conceived

and undertaken for the purpose of getting Nigeria’s pulse recognized and appreciated for what it is really worth far beyond its shores. With the Vice President’s reputation for taking his job seriously this was definitely in his character!

Abdullahi Garba is a public commentator and can be reached at

abdullahigarba2010@yahoo.com