US Ambassador: Improved Power Will Boost Nigerian Economy

Ejiofor Alike

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington has expressed the confidence that with more concerted efforts, the country would improve its power supply to boost the economy.

Speaking during a visit to Mantrac Nigeria Limited Head Office in Ikeja, Lagos, as part of his efforts to support American firms and other firms that deal on US-made products, Symington said the visit was to seek ways of providing opportunities to enable these companies boost the Nigerian economy.

“Nigerians are hardworking and enterprising. I am confident that with more concerted efforts, the country will overcome her challenges through improved power supply,” he said.

Ambassador Symington described Caterpillar and Mantrac partnership in Nigeria as “investment at the highest level.”
Caterpillar, a US company, manufactures a wide range of power systems and earth moving equipment, among other products. Mantrac Nigeria is part of the Mantrac Group, which is the Caterpillar’s official dealer in ten countries including, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Iraq and parts of Russia.

Symington expressed happiness with the Mantrac’s performance report and its large number of Nigerian work force, and described it as “truly Nigerian.” He proffered useful tips and tasked the company’s management and staff to sustain the culture of excellence.

He said over the years, Caterpillar’s involvement in Nigeria had yielded “convincing rewards,” adding that Mantrac has a big role to play in lifting Nigeria and Africa. “If Nigeria and Africa do well, the world will do well; if Nigeria and Africa fail to do well, the world will not do well,” Symington added.

In a slide presentation, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Edmund Martin-Lawson told the envoy that the company, which is the sole authorised dealer of Caterpillar products in Nigeria, had set a vision to benchmark for Caterpillar dealership globally.

However, he noted that the Nigerian economy is going through a tough time presently but added that it still remains a large market and an “excellent investment destination” as well as a huge opportunity for the Mantrac group.
He said the company had provided the country’s power needs through the supply of high-tech systems to critical sectors like the telecom, marine, manufacturing, oil and gas, among others.

According to him, between 70 and 80 per cent of Caterpillar Generator sets sold by Mantrac were manufactured/assembled in Nigeria. He described the envoy’s visit as encouraging, adding that Mantrac was highly honoured to host the highest-ranking US citizen in Nigeria.