Tinubu promises investors of improved business atmosphere
Tinubu promises investors of improved business atmosphere
Story from Vivian DANIEL, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has pledged to potential investors in Nigeria that his administration would provide a healthier business environment for them to thrive.
He made the promise when he granted an audience to the founder and Global Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Africa Group Chief Executive, Segun Ogunsanya, and their team at the State House, Abuja.
While welcoming the delegation, the President remembered his historic connection with the telecommunications company when it started as Econet Wireless, while he was governor of Lagos State, stating that he facilitated and supported the entry of the company into Nigeria to liberalise the industry.
He commended the company’s growth and welcomed the offer of partnership to further deepen economic growth and eradicate poverty among Nigerians.
Tinubu also applauded the economic strength of India in Asia, while emphasising how technology has aided the largest democracy in the world to pull millions out of extreme poverty.
Mitall, in his remarks, extolled the President for the key decisions he has taken within just three weeks in office, which have put Nigeria back on the global business to be reckoned with and offered him the goodwill of his company and that of his country, India.
“I came here to make a request, but I have to say thank you first. We are grateful for what you have done with the removal of fuel subsidy and fixing the foreign exchange. This will open a floodgate of foreign investments. You have taken these bold steps. It is important to stand firm. Airtel is a robust telecoms company, and we are ready to serve Nigeria,” Mitall added.
Wale Edun, the Special Adviser to the President on Monetary Policy, noted that the President had always recognised the transformational power of technology and telecommunications for economic growth since his time as governor of Lagos State.
Segun Ogunsanya pleaded with Tinubu on the challenge of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure, to prioritise it as a national security issue that should be addressed, critically.
He said: “It is in our interest to provide better service but we are always faced with the destruction of our infrastructure, especially our fibre optic cables. Telecoms infrastructure should be taken as critical national assets that must be protected.