President Muhammadu Buhari has assured some British Members of Parliament that his government would rebuild Nigeria, but emphasised Nigeria’s expectations from Britain in the rebuilding process.
Receiving a team of British Members of Parliament led by a Nigerian, Honourable Chi Onwurah, at State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, President Buhari declared: “We are going to rebuild Nigeria, and there are vast opportunities for Britain and us.
Harping on the affinity shared by the two countries, President Buhari said: “We share very close ties, and our expectation from you is high”.
“Cheap Money”
A statement by the spokesman for the President, Femi Adesina, said the Nigerian leader lamented that his nation had found itself in a phase of development, “which is not a very welcome one”.
“We are disorganised because we relied on mono-economic product for too long, and now that oil price is down, we have to go back to agriculture and solid minerals.
“Tin, columbite, cocoa, groundnut, and others, used to be the basis of our economy, but then, oil came, and everybody began to look for cheap money.
“Now, we need to start all over again,” President Buhari stressed.
Honourable Onwurah, Nigerian-born MP for Newcastle, told reporters after the meeting that the team was in Nigeria “to promote positive engagement between Nigeria and the UK, since we are stronger when we build on ties of the past.”
She said her team was interested in how the Diaspora could support the economic progress of Nigeria, as well as promotion of trade and diversification of the economy.
Also on the delegation were Rt. Honurable Laurence Robertson, another Nigerian, Honourable Ms Kate Osamor and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright.
