By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The protection of Nigerian-owned businesses in Angola is set to take centre stage in the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission, as the Federal Government moves to safeguard the interests of its citizens doing business in the country.
Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave the assurance on the sidelines of the just-held 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, when she inspected facilities at Cidade De Motores, City of Engines, Golf 2, Luanda.
The facility hosts a major market established by the Nigerian Auto Parts Dealers Association, an achievement the Minister described as a demonstration of the “pioneering spirit of Nigerians” and a model of what Nigerians can accomplish abroad.
“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground”, she noted in a statement given to PerSecondNews by Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communications and New Media, on Thursday.
“We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some phony stories would be told about their investment,”she added.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu assured the traders that the protection of Nigerian businesses would be prioritised in future bilateral engagements with Angola, particularly during the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.
She also linked the commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s concern for the wellbeing of Nigerians wherever they reside, noting that the government had taken steps to protect Nigerians facing challenges in other countries.
The Minister urged the dealers to remain law-abiding and good ambassadors of Nigeria, while encouraging them to use the market as a model of unity and inclusiveness.
She particularly cautioned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market.
“There should be no room for tribalism,” she stressed.
Earlier, Chuks Ukachi, President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, thanked the Minister for visiting the market despite her busy schedule in Angola.
PerSecondNews recalls that the project was conceived after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from operating along the roadside, leaving many members without business for about two years.
Ukachi explained that the market was open to all Nigerians and Angolans interested in the business, stressing that the facility was intended to project a positive image of Nigeria.
“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us.”
The association appealed to the Minister to facilitate Federal Government support towards securing and protecting the market, which represents a significant investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs in Angola.
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