Receiving a team of British Members of Parliament led by Hon Chi Onwurah at State House, Abuja, Tuesday, President Buhari declared: “We are going to rebuild Nigeria, and there are vast opportunities for Britain and us. We share very close ties, and our expectation from you is high.”
President Buhari lamented that Nigeria has found herself in a phase of development, “which is not a very welcome one. We are disorganized because we relied on mono-economic product for too long, and now that oil price is down, we have to go back to agriculture and solid minerals. Tin, columbite, cocoa, groundnut, and others, used to be the basis of our economy, but then, oil came, and everybody began to look for cheap money. Now, we need to start all over again.”
Hon. Onwurah, Nigerian-born MP for Newcastle, said the team was in the country “to promote positive engagement between Nigeria and the UK, since we are stronger when we build on ties of the past.”
She said her team was interested in how the Diaspora can support the economic progress of Nigeria, as well as promotion of trade and diversification of the economy.
Also on the delegation made up of three MPs was the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 16, 2016
