Tariffs: Nigeria will be alternative market, partner, Tinubu tells Colombia

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to support and fast-track the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Colombia, maintaining that Nigeria remains an alternative market and partner for the South America country. On Sunday through Monday, Nigeria and Colombia signed series of MoUs in the area of political consultations, opening a new and significant chapter […]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to support and fast-track the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Colombia, maintaining that Nigeria remains an alternative market and partner for the South America country.

On Sunday through Monday, Nigeria and Colombia signed series of MoUs in the area of political consultations, opening a new and significant chapter in relations between both countries, under the leadership of Vice president Kashim Shettima.

But, addressing the Colombian delegation led by the country’s Vice President, Mrs. Francia Márquez, President Tinubu promised that his administration will work on being a very good alternative market and partner, saying Nigeria is a country of over 250 million people and it is still growing at almost three percent per annum.

The President explained that the development has become necessary especially at a time that the world trade is being battered by various tariif restrictions and alterations.

He noted that even though, there is a language barrier between the two countries, it should not delay the MoUs in moving forward as interpreters can be used to speed up the process.

President Tinubu who spoke after listening to the delegation and submission from their Nigerian counterpart said, “Mine is to support every aspect that is going on, particularly for Colombia, what we have entered with Brazil can be replicated easily in aviation, and our passport holder and diplomatic relations can be enhanced and we will work with the foreign affairs to accelerate that and move quickly.

“Particularly, Nigeria being producer of Gas, oil and gas, particularly gas, we have other opportunities in agriculture and other areas that we can work with the bilateral agreements that we have. We will accelerate it, we will not slow it down.”

He commended the delegation, saying it is good to have you come home and continue to promote the opportunities that exists in our country, and the partnership in Africa.

“More so, now that the world trade is being battered by various tariif restrictions and alterations. We will work on being a very good alternative market and partner. This is a country of over 250 million people and it is still growing at almost three percent per annum and it is a good market for you.

“Politically we are related, language that is a barrier, we have interpreters between us, it should not delay us from moving forward,” he said.