Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians living abroad that the country remains open for business despite what he described as negative stories circulating on social media.
Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian diaspora community in the United States at the Nigeria House in New York.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President urged Nigerians in the diaspora to support the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the economy and attract investment.
“Beyond the negative stories that you hear and see on social media, Nigeria is open for business,” Shettima said, adding that the country was on a path of sustained growth.
Shettima Highlights Economic Reforms
The Vice President said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had taken what he described as bold decisions aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy.
He said the government was working to improve sectors including education, healthcare, science and technology and agriculture, while seeking to leverage the expertise of Nigerians living abroad.
Shettima cited an increase in Nigeria’s foreign reserves from $3.9 billion to more than $55 billion and said the economy recorded 4.45 per cent growth in the most recent quarter.
He also said improvements in the exchange rate and foreign reserves would help strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s economy and support diaspora remittances and investments.
The Vice President pointed to the Dangote Refinery as an example of what he described as growing investment confidence in the country.
NELFUND Beneficiaries
Shettima also highlighted the Federal Government’s student loan programme, saying more than 1.29 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions had accessed about N125 billion through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund since the programme began.
On security, he acknowledged the challenges facing the country but said the government was deploying available resources to address emerging threats.
He also called for greater national unity, saying Nigerians should focus on issues that unite the country rather than those that divide it.
The meeting was attended by several government officials and governors, including Babagana Zulum of Borno, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, alongside Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Source: Channels Television / Voice of Nigeria
