President Goodluck Jonathan brushed aside criticisms of a slow response to the spate of bombings by outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in African’s most populous economy, to assume the seat of salesman-in-chief for Nigeria as he told visiting Saudi Prince, Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin AbdulAziz Alsaud that opportunities abound for prospective nbestors in terms of security and good relations.
President Jonathan said his guest, Prince Alwaleed, ranked as one of the world’s most influential businessmen and investors.
The Nigerian president made this statement while receiving the Saudi Prince at the State House, Thursday.
“With a population of 167m, a robust economy, extensive oil and gas reserves, a largely unexploited petroleum downstream sector, opportunities in such strategic sectors as agriculture, energy and mining, with a robust plan by government to transform the nation, Nigeria is the ideal place for serious investors”, he said.
The President told Prince Alwaleed that Nigeria is essentially a green field, in the areas of hotels, real estate, infrastructure, energy and agriculture, adding that the consensus of the participants at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group was that the country would become Africa’s largest economy in the medium term.
He also spoke about the banking sector’s capacity to accommodate more investors, while there were also huge opportunities in telecommunications.
President Jonathan thanked Prince Alwaleed for his interest in Nigeria, and directed the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission to provide the necessary support to further facilitate investment relations between Kingdom Zephyr Africa management Company and Nigeria.
Earlier, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin AbdulAziz Alsaud had expressed his desire to invest in Nigeria, because the market was large, adding that “any investor in Africa who does not come to Nigeria has not started and has a long way to go”.
He said his company, Kingdom Zephyr Africa Management Company has interests in most African countries in hotels, banking, cement production, oil and charity projects.
“I want to activate a strong relationship with Nigeria, in whatever area we may find suitable, and funds are not a constraint”, he told the President.
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin AbdulAziz Alsaud is ranked by Forbes, Time Magazine, and many other influential publications among the most influential businessmen and investors in the world.