In a bid to boost foreign investments in Nigeria, the federal government of Nigeria has called for more cooperation between Nigerians living in the diaspora and government officials.
This call was made by the Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Professor Adebowale Adefuye who was today represented by Mr. Steve Baba at the US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum, a side event of the ongoing Diaspora World Conference in Washington DC.
Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye, in his speech advised Nigerians living abroad to see it as their duties to further cooperate with the Nigerian government and officials of the federal government in order to be able to draw the attention of foreign investors to the country.
The Nigeria's envoy also pressed further that the cooperation of Diaspora Nigerians is greatly needed to be able to get over all the challenges the country is presently facing.
He also urged them to continue to promote the good image of Nigeria, stressing that they should stay away from acts that can make the country look insecured or corrupt to foreigners that want to do their businesses in Nigeria.
Ambassador Adefuye also noted that the Nigerian government will continue to extend its hands of supports to the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in the United States of America (NIDOA) in all the areas required of it so as to move the country forward.
Citing the name of Mr. Franklin Ekechukwu, the Director of NIDOA, the Nigeria's official however appreciated the efforts of the leaders of the organisation to ensure that the image of the Nigerian government remains intact despite plans by those he described as “enemies of progress” to paint the country and its Embassy in Washington DC with a black ink.
On security, Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye reaffirmed the committments of the federal government of Nigeria to always tackle insecurity and as well provide maximum security for Nigerian citizens and foreigners especially those who are on foreign missions to Nigeria.
The Ambassador pressed further that the government is doing everything possible to ensure that the activities of Boko Haram are checkmated and brought to halt very soon.
He also assured participants at the event that President Goodluck Jonathan would not relent in his efforts to bring those behind the dastardly acts of the Islamic Sect to justice irrespective of their positions in the society.
Speaking on the relationship with the United States, Adefuye said that Nigeria has always had an excellent relationship with the government of the United States of America, particularly the link with Americans and the Nigerian people living in the country.
He added that both countries will not relent in their efforts to uphold all the components of the US-Nigerian Bi-National Commission (BNC) especially in the areas of infrastructures and regional security which tends to deal with the activities of Boko Haram members, pirates and militants decisively.
Saying that Nigeria is of great significance to the US, Adefuye noted that the Barrack Obama-led government recognizes Nigeria to be one of the most important countries in sub-Saharan Africa, its largest trading partner, its fifth largest supplier of crude oil and a country it seeks to strengthen and broaden its relationship with.?