•Montgomery hails Tinubu’s economic reforms
The United Kingdom’s Minister for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, has arrived in Nigeria to begin a three-day visit today.
According to a statement by the British High Commission, the visit would deepen the UK-Nigeria partnership.
During her stay, the minister would hold talks with her Nigeria counterparts and other key government officials on issues of mutual benefit to both countries, The Guardian was informed.
Last August, the UK former Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, was in the country for an official visit with follow-up talks on defence and security collaboration between the two countries.
Following the former Foreign Secretary’s visit to Nigeria and last week’s UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Talks, Minister Badenoch’s visit will take forward ongoing efforts by both countries to boost the UK-Nigeria trade relationship and unlock new investment opportunities, the statement by the High Commission said.
While in Nigeria, Badenoch and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Helen Grant, will have meetings with the federal government, state governors as well as British and Nigerian business leaders as well as investors.
The minister will through the meeting explore current and potential investment and trade activities from education to infrastructure and energy projects, with the prospects of creating thousands of jobs.
Badenoch is looking at further strengthening the UK-Nigeria partnership, removing barriers to trade and investment, growing business between the two countries, and ensuring the British business community is more accessible to Nigerians who wish to do business there.
Commenting on her visit to Nigeria, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, was quoted as saying: “Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa. We are committed to helping Nigeria unlock new investment opportunities, supporting more UK and international investment through the City of London, and thereby creating jobs in both our countries.
“Recent big and bold reforms by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria are boosting optimism amongst international investors that the country is on the right path and are creating the conditions for growth.”
