SHETTIMA ADDRESSES LEADERS AT RUSSIA-AFRICA SUMMIT PLENARY, SAYS NIGERIA AT NEW DAWN, REPOSITIONED FOR GREATNESS

*VP highlights @officialABAT administration’s economic agenda

*Adds: "Reforms designed to restore business confidence, block wastage"

Given the current measures adopted by the Tinubu administration to diversify the economy and address emerging challenges, Nigeria is now at a new dawn to chart and re-position its destiny for greatness, according to the Vice President, Sen. @KashimSM. 

Addressing political and business leaders at the second plenary session of the Russia-Africa Summit holding in St. Petersburg on Friday, the Vice President said "government is taking decisive steps to fight crime, punish offenders, directly tackle the insurgency, and do everything necessary to secure lives and investments in the country." 

Highlighting the Tinubu administration’s economic agenda, Sen. Shettima said "we have resolved and are firmly determined to consolidate on industrializing Nigeria and diversifying its economy into sectors that the country has a comparative advantage. 

"The administration of President Tinubu recognizes the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda, and will therefore give the fullest possible support to foreign and domestic investors." 

"The administration has identified key growth drivers and sectors that are very important to the diversification of Nigerian economy, including power, transportation, infrastructure, maritime, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles etc. The Nigerian government considers these sectors as key priority areas that will drive the country’s economic agenda," the VP added. 

Speaking further about investment opportunities in Nigeria, Sen. Shettima said "in view of the current geopolitical situation, we must begin to think of real time investment in addition to trading in commodities. We call on Russian companies to take advantage of the vast potentials in Nigeria, being the largest market in Africa to invest in strategic areas and to derive maximum benefits."