Nigeria is the top agenda in Tinubu’s open invitation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu knows the problem facing Nigeria and he has been working hard at reforms although there is a feeling in the country that the policies introduced so far are some of the most severe that Nigerians have experienced since independence.
By Ayodele Johnson
The scene was approaching 08:00 pm on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where President Bola Tinubu sent out an open invitation to delegates and the heads of government present, telling them that his country Nigeria was available for investment initiatives.
It was the president’s inaugural speech at the assembly, one that quickly breezed through five points of concern that he considered crucial for meaningful development in Nigeria and the African continent.
President Tinubu had no doubt in his mind that a prosperous country and continent both require steady financial inflows which can happen through honest partnerships with the allies. This was the launchpad through which he built a focus.
“The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business,” says the president.
As far as the leader is concerned, “the question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner,” instead of the current master-subject relationship that African countries are trying to get away from.
“Direct investment in critical industries, opening their ports to a wider range and larger quantity of African exports and meaningful debt relief are important aspects of the cooperation we seek,” Mr Tinubu added.
From here, he moved on to stability and governance in Africa’s different regions that are being challenged by the re-emergence of dictators who are withdrawing from democratic values. The harm in letting these events slide would mean giving room to extremists who thrive in the disarray of coup d’état.
Niger Republic is a close neighbour to Nigeria where a military coup recently occurred. The situation there has a direct impact on his country, which is why President Bola Tinubu, given his post as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, has been making efforts to address what is being regarded as an anomaly through negotiations.
Growth at Africa’s pace
And there is the problem of climate change to sort out. In Nigeria, no part has been left out from the impact, be it the north or the south. A publicised initiative such as the Great Green Wall has its uses but it won’t solve all the problems.
The Western world is right to curb its emission of carbon being the chief culprit, but African countries like Nigeria must be allowed to navigate the terrain at their own pace was President Tinubu’s thinking.
“In Nigeria, we shall build political consensus by highlighting remedial actions which also promote economic good.
“Projects such as a Green Wall to stop desert encroachment, halting the destruction of our forests by mass production and distribution of gas burning stoves, and providing employment in local water management and irrigation projects are examples of efforts that equally advance both economic and climate change objectives.
“Continental efforts regarding climate change will register important victories if established economies were more forthcoming with public and private sector investment for Africa’s preferred initiatives.”
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has taught the Western economies to look elsewhere in scouting for their energy supply since they cannot keep doing business with an aggressor. It is the reason why the developed countries in Europe have extended their search for gas to the African continent although they still have their nuclear energy mix in place.
ALSO READ: Nigeria’s hopes to digitise public service through Oracle link-up
This has brought on a renewed thirst visible among advanced nations to associate closely with Africa. What Mr Tinubu has demanded in his inaugural address is a recalibration that demands the strong countries of the world to picture Africans as equal partners.
Rounding up thoughts from the podium, Nigeria’s president wants freedom for all Africans whose continent possesses the solutions that the global community now seek.
“As for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron. We do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones.
“Instead, we hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances. We desire a prosperous, vibrant democratic living space for our people.
“To the rest of the world, I say walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”
Such openness and approach have been the agenda of Mr Bola Tinubu since he assumed his role as the President of Nigeria on May 29. At the recently held G20 Summit, his presence centred on fostering better outcomes for his country and race.
The president knows the problem facing Nigeria and he has been working hard at reforms that provide a new, attractive narration under his watch.
Yet, there is a feeling in the country that the policies introduced so far are some of the most severe that Nigerians have experienced since their country gained independence from the British in 1960.
The inflation figures remain high irrespective of the measures that have gone into easing them. It shows in the high food costs with many citizens being unable to afford enough to eat despite the palliatives designed to curb the problems.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
