Abuja needs more foreign investors

Two weeks ago, some foreign investors came to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from China. They were interested in partnering with the officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on transportation and agriculture.  Another team from the United Arab Emirate also came last week. This group also told the FCTA officials that they […]

Two weeks ago, some foreign investors came to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from China. They were interested in partnering with the officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on transportation and agriculture. 

Another team from the United Arab Emirate also came last week. This group also told the FCTA officials that they wanted to invest in the city’s transportation sector.

It was learnt that both the Chinese and the Middle East groups were very anxious to share their wealth of experiences and developmental efforts with the FCTA officials on areas such as infrastructure, transport and the health sector.

This is an encouraging development. They could not have come at a better time than now when Nigeria is looking towards industrialised countries to develop its own local resources for the maximum benefit of her people. 

Any investor, no matter how little he or she wants to invest in Abuja, should be welcomed and encouraged by the government. This is the only practical way to develop Abuja into a mega city where things are working. People are already aware that Dubai was transformed from a mere village to a big mega city within a very short period by her own people. The same could be done in Abuja within the next few years if all hands would be put on deck.

Since he assumed duties in 2015, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Musa Bello, has made pronouncements about his determination to accelerate the development of Abuja by partnering with the private sector.  He has kept his promise, and the doors of the FCTA have remained open for investors, both local and foreign. For example, the Chinese are interested in investing not less than $5 billion in the FCT transport sector. This will help to improve the traffic situation in the city, provide more revenue for the government and help in the provision of jobs for the large unemployed youth roaming the streets. 

The investors from the United Arab Emirate are interested in the city’s infrastructural development, which is another area of priority for the FCTA. It is through this means that the planned development of the city in phases could be actualised. There is no faster means of achieving this dream than partnering with such investors. Abuja is fast growing. After 30 years of its takeoff, it has achieved great strides, but a lot more is still needed in almost all areas of development. 

Ibrahim Biu wrote from Kuje, Abuja.