By David Adebayo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the business community of his government’s commitment to policy consistency and better business climate to attract investment.
The President, according to a statement by Dele Alake, Special to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, spoke Monday while receiving the delegation of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) led by the Global Upstream Director, Ms Zoe Yujnovic at the State House, Abuja.
The president received in audience, a delegation led by Ms Zoe Yunovic, Global Upstream Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company on a courtesy visit, the release stated.President Tinubu, the special adviser stated, welcomed the SPDC’s offer for more investments in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, adding that such investments were needed now more than ever, to enable government meet its obligations.
“The President recalled that attracting fresh investment was “a promise I made personally to Nigerians. Whatever it takes, I will fulfill that promise to Nigerians”, Alake stated.
President Tinubu, he said, reiterated that Nigeria was ready for business, assuring the Shell management and other investors of his administration’s willingness to maintain an open-door policy and address their concerns.
“We are open for business. We are serious. I give you the assurance of consistency in policy,” he quoted Tinubu as saying.
Alake added that the President also assured that his government was removing all forms of bottlenecks in order to ensure Nigeria became an attractive investment destination.
Addressing the President earlier, Ms Yujnock, according to Alake, applauded what she described as “incredibly strong start” of the Tinubu presidency and expressed optimism that the “bold” steps taken by the government would renew Nigeria’s pride of place as an investment destination. He also quoted Yujnock as saying that SPDC was willing to ramp up investment in the country, especially in the areas of gas and deep-water assets by pumping in billions of dollars.
She said Nigeria remains a strategic investment country for the company in view of the long history between the two entities and the prospects held by the county’s oil and gas sector”, the special adviser stated.
In attendance at the meeting, according to Alake, were Mr. Peter Costello, Osagie Okun o, and Mar De Jong who joined the Shell delegation while Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President; Ms Olu Verheijen, SA Energy to the President; SA on Revenue Matters to the President, Mr. Zacchaeus Adedeji and Mr. Mele Kyari, GMD, NNPC Ltd. were also present at the meeting.
