Obasanjo, Saraki, Ejindu, Others Call for Smoother Trade Ties with Angola
Ugo Aliogo and Adeoye Adebayo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and a notable businesswoman, Fifi Ejindu, yesterday, advocated smoother trade ties between Nigeria and Angola.
This happened at a brainstorming session on Saturday,where stakeholders and top business magnates met at Angola-Nigeria Diplomatic-Business Investment organised by the Angola-Nigeria Business Council.
The event, which held at the prestigious Radisson Blu, Victoria Island, Lagos, witnessed notable personalities, who shared their views.
Others who also spoke at the event included Edem Duke, Segun Awolowo, and the Vice President of the Council, Engineer Antonio dos Santos Domingos, among several others.
Obasanjo, who called for increased bilateral relations between Nigeria and Angola, said the meeting focused on the potential for enhanced collaboration between the two countries.
According to Obasanjo, who was also a special guest of honour at the event, emphasised the need to boost trade volume within Africa, reflecting a commitment to advancing economic partnerships on the continent.
He advised that attention should be on African countries’ benefits from their own products, as it aligns with the goal of promoting intra-African trade and economic self-sufficiency
He expressed concerns about infrastructure deficits, particularly in transportation and highlighted the challenges that needed to be addressed to facilitate seamless trade between nations.
Secretary of the National Action Committee of AFCFTA, Nigeria, Olusegun Awolowo, said the lack of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between Nigeria and Angola underscored the untapped potential for economic engagement between the two largest oil exporters in Africa.
“Sadly, there is no Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between Nigeria and Angola. This means trade between the two biggest oil exporters is zero, and this is not good enough.”
Speaking on the efforts to address trade barriers and streamline visa processes, the President of the Angola-Nigeria Business Council, Ejindu, called for a positive step toward fostering smoother trade ties between Nigeria and Angola.
According to her, the support from Angolan government authorities further reinforced the potential for progress in this regard.
A former Minister of Finance in Angola, Armando Manuel, said a positive assessment of the recent diplomatic-business investment meeting signalled the fruitful nature of the discussions and the potential for tangible outcomes in the near future.
“We are awaiting Nigerian investors to come to Angola because we already have the expertise in various sectors,” he said.
Saraki, who was a patron of the council, encouraged that stakeholders of the council in Angola and Nigeria should walk the talk and commence action immediately to encourage investment between the two countries.
