President Bola Tinubu has urged the United Kingdom government to strengthen its partnership with Nigeria and Africa by investing more across sectors.
Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s media aide, said Tinubu spoke when he met with James Cleverly, the UK foreign secretary, in his office on Wednesday.
While addressing the pressing issue of energy transition and the prospect for economic growth in Africa and Nigeria, Tinubu pressed Cleverly on the West’s, particularly the UK’s, imperatives in raising investment to pipe gas from Nigeria to Europe.
“The Western economic programme should be able to help Nigeria pipe our gas to Europe since gas is acceptable as alternative clean energy. You must help us with the finance and facilitate the investment we require,” Ngelale quoted Tinubu as saying.
The president said the UK government must work with Nigeria and the rest of Africa to create a competitive, technologically advanced economy that will cater for the needs of all citizens.
“I am happy to know that the United Kingdom is ready to work with us in Nigeria and Africa. The United Kingdom must do more for the continent. We have not developed a competitive economy,” Tinubu said.
On democracy, peace and stability in West Africa, Tinubu said that security would remain a challenge as long as there are unstable governments in the sub-region.
He used the opportunity of the visit to decry the situation in Niger, the Sahel region and Horn of Africa where terrorists are finding comfort.
He asked the government of UK to support Nigeria to secure West Africa.
“We need a dynamic partnership on security and economic development because we don’t want terrorists to make Africa and our sub-region their nest,” Tinubu told the UK foreign secretary.
On his part, Cleverly saluted Tinubu for taking bold and decisive actions on fuel subsidy removal and on multiple foreign exchange markets, which he said will bring development to the country despite the current pains.
He told Tinubu about his meeting in Lagos with entrepreneurs, technologists and young people in the creative sector, saying that his home government remains a strategic long-term partner of Nigeria and Africa.
Cleverly said he was in Nigeria to promote bilateral and economic partnership.
“I am keen on encouraging more UK investments into Nigeria. You took bold and important decisions so far that will reform your economy and open it more for foreign investments. Nigeria has a population of very young, educated and thoughtful people,” he said.
“With their energy and talents along with your resources, Nigeria can be a net exporter of energy and agricultural products. The UK will remain a strategic long-term and multi-decades partner of Nigeria and Africa.”
On the political situation in the Republic of Niger, Cleverly offered his government’s support for the decision of ECOWAS and the leadership of Tinubu in promoting democracy and stability.
“For us, our national interest is to see a peaceful and prosperous African continent because peace and security go hand in hand,” he said.
