A former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has advocated improved bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Kalu made said this at a parley with Rt. Hon. Chi Onwurah, the Secretary of All Parliamentary Committee on Nigeria at the Palace of Westminster.
Onwurah and other members of the UK parliament had recently visited the Nigerian parliament as part of the partnership efforts. She noted that the visit afforded the members of the Nigeria and UK
parliaments the opportunity to share legislative experiences, ideas, engage in discussions and also changed perceptions of both countries.
She stated further that Nigeria is a one stop country with unlimited potentials if optimally explored.
However, the Boko Haram insurgency, she said, has negatively affected the flow of foreign direct investment into the country. British investors, she said, are willing to invest and partner with
Nigeria on diverse projects but in a safe environment where security of life and property can be guaranteed.
Onwurah called on the Nigerian Government to tackle the Boko Haram challenge while promising the support of the British Government in promoting a peaceful world. Kalu said as a former Nigerian parliamentarian, he knows the strategic importance of legislators in promoting a just society through pro-people legislation.
He commended the All Parliamentary Committee on Nigeria for the initiative on peer review with their counterparts in Nigeria.
He said such partnership is good for the well being of the nation. Kalu, who had on several occasions advocated dialogue with Boko Haram, noted that the proposed amnesty for the sect by the Federal Government will provide a sustainable solution.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated the political will and passion to overcome the challenge with the inauguration of the committee for Boko Haram’s amnesty.
He called for proper planning in the process and procedure for the management of the amnesty programme so that the aims could be optimally achieved.
He also used the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide a special development fund as compensation to Ndigbo who lost several lives and properties worth millions of naira during the civil war and the Boko Haram attacks. He said the fund should be allocated to the five South East states for infrastructural development and upliftment of the people. Dr. Kalu further stated that Nigeria is blessed with well meaning businessmen who are open to opportunities and business partnerships and called on the UK Government to further strengthen trade relations with Nigeria by organizing trade shows, exhibitions, investment forums, business summits and other exchange programmes for a mutually beneficial relationship.
… Tells Indian businesses ,Nigeria an investment hub
Founder and President of Slok Group, Dr. Orji Kalu, has described Nigeria as an investment hub for businesses in all sectors. Kalu said this during an interactive session organised by Prime
Electric Group of India in conjunction with Progressive Harmony Development on Tuesday at the PHD Chambers, Delhi, India.
The event had in attendance Ambassador Ndubuisi Amaku, Nigeria Ambassador to India; Suman Jyoti Khaitan, President of PHD; Mr. Surinder Mehta, Chairman of Prime Electric Group of India; Mr. Rohan
Mehta, MD of Prime Electric Group; Chief David Uche; Engineer Raju Singh Gurinder; Mr. Vinay Dalal, CEO of Skipper Electricals (India) Limited; Aditi Luthra of Lexicon Services Limited; Rahul Bhan of
Riskpro India Ventures Limited; V.K Singh of International Tractors; Nidhi Sharma of Bergen Associates PVT Limited; Manisha Bhatia of United Technology; and Sunman Tejpal of Sumex Overseas, among others. Khaitan, in his remarks, re-affirmed the commitment and passion to strengthen trade relations between Nigeria and India, describing the two countries as identical in features and ideology.
He said Nigeria and India have huge population, vast natural resources, wide market and economic diplomacy among others. He noted that the delegation is the fourth delegation the PHD Chambers
will be hosting in the last four months and described it as a demonstration of partnership.
He promised that Indian investors will expand their scope of businesses in Nigeria in order to contribute to the development process in Nigeria for the benefit of the two countries.
Kalu described Nigeria as the investment destination for all investors. He noted that Nigeria is blessed with unlimited human and material resources, which are key inputs for business growth, adding: “This is
the right time to invest in Nigeria.”
He identified Indian companies such as K Chellarams, Church Gate Group and others as success stories of such partnership in Nigeria. Kalu stated further that foreign direct investment promotes backward
and forward linkages between countries, giving each other the opportunity to focus on areas of comparative advantage. He said: “No nation is an island.”We all need to be interdependent in promoting balanced and stable trade activities among nations.”
Kalu noted that doing business in Nigeria will provide opportunities to expand to other neighboring countries to Nigeria such as Benin republic, Togo and Cameroun.
He charged the gathering to ignore negative generalizations on Nigeria and assured them of the support of the government, the organized private sector and the diplomatic mission in fast tracking business
activities between the two countries.
At a dinner in his honour by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Ndubuisi Amaku, at the Nigeria House in India on Sunday, Kalu commended the Nigeria High Commission in India on their
initiatives.
In his opening remarks, Amaku said on assumption of office in January 2013, he shared a common mission and vision with the staff of the Commission, with economic and trade diplomacy as the cardinal
strategies of promoting and strengthening bilateral relations between India and Nigeria.
He noted that economic relations between Nigeria and India have increased over the years but can still be better. He highlighted the friendly business environment and incentives such as tax holiday for pioneer companies, registration/incorporation of business entity within 48 hours and trade finance among others as driving support for bilateral relationships.
Amaku promised the support of the Nigeria High Commission in providing information and facilitating business deals between the two countries for mutually beneficial relationship.
Kalu described Amaku has a seasoned career diplomat with vast experience in foreign and diplomatic roles and commended President
Goodluck Jonathan for posting him to one of the BRICS nations. He noted that his economic diplomacy initiative has attracted leading Indian companies to Nigeria.
He said: “With this gathering this evening, it is evident that Nigeria and India have renewed their friendship for greater partnership.” Kalu advised Indian investors to ignore negative perceptions about
Nigeria, saying that there is no country without her challenges. He stated further that development comes with its own vices but Nigeria has overcome most of them.
He advised Indians coming to Nigeria to engage in legitimate businesses for the sake of mutually respected relationship. Kalu also used the opportunity to inform the gathering that the
Federal Government of Nigeria has set up a committee on amnesty for Boko Haram in order to put a stop to the activities of the sec. He commended the Federal Government for the move, which he described as “strategic.”
He assured investors that with such initiative by the government, doing business in Nigeria will be fruitful.
