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FG Assures Nigerians of Investment Protection in Angola
FG Assures Nigerians of Investment Protection in Angola
The Federal Government has assured Nigerian entrepreneurs operating in Angola of its commitment to protecting their investments and safeguarding the interests of Nigerians living and doing business in the country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during an inspection visit to Cidade De Motores (City of Engines) in Golf 2, Luanda, where Nigerian auto-parts dealers have established a major spare-parts market.
The visit was undertaken on the sidelines of the recently concluded 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed satisfaction with the scale of the investment, describing it as evidence of the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of Nigerians abroad.
“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground. We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some phony stories would be told about their investment,” she said.
The minister said the protection of Nigerian-owned businesses and investments would receive greater attention in future bilateral discussions with Angola, particularly during the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.
She also assured the traders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, noting that the Federal Government had continued to intervene in situations involving Nigerians facing difficulties in foreign countries.
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While commending the traders for contributing to Nigeria’s economic presence and image abroad, the minister urged them to remain law-abiding and uphold the reputation of the country.
She equally appealed for unity among members of the association and cautioned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market.
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“There should be no room for tribalism,” she said.
Earlier, the President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Mr. Chuks Ukachi, thanked the minister for visiting the facility and taking time to interact with the traders.
Ukachi explained that the market was established after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from conducting business along the roadside, a development that reportedly left many of them without viable businesses for about two years.
He said the new facility was created to provide a more organised trading environment for Nigerian entrepreneurs while also opening opportunities for Angolans interested in the automobile spare-parts sector.
According to him, the market is open to Nigerians from all parts of the country and is intended to promote unity and strengthen Nigeria’s image in Angola.
“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” Ukachi said.
The association appealed to the Federal Government to support efforts to secure and protect the facility, describing it as a significant investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs in Angola.
The development further highlights the growing role of Nigerian businesses in strengthening commercial ties and economic relations between Nigeria and Angola.
By Sophina Ovuike, Abuja
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