ith the various reforms and multi-sector reorganizations the Bola Tinubu-led administration has been initiating, Nigeria is fast becoming a regional and global powerhouse, United Kingdom (UK)’s authorities have observed.
The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, made the observation while delivering a goodwill message at the 2023 Cabinet Retreat held for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries and top government functionaries on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Montgomery, who assured the nation of the UK’s continued support in the spirit of mutual respect and partnership, also observed that the nation, at the moment, is faced with daunting economic, security and social challenges, but applauded the President’s reform initiatives aimed at attending to the challenges.
The UK High Commissioner, who affirmed his country’s renewed partnership with Nigeria, also pointed out that Nigeria is projected to become third third-largest country in the world by the year 2050
He said: “Mr. President, I’d like to recognize Nigeria as a growing regional and global powerhouse. You are likely to become the third largest country in the world by 2050. I applaud your plans to stabilize the economy and put it on a higher growth path to prosperity, on which so much else depends.
“The UK stands ready to support in the spirit of mutual respect. The UK stands ready to stand up on our partnerships across a range of areas and I wish you and your government all the best wishes and goodwill in your work ahead.
“Nigeria faces big security, economic and social challenges. In a global context, the big challenges are the difficult global economy, and shifting geopolitical and foreign policy pressures and as I said in public before, I applaud the big and bold economic reforms that you are taking forward.
“I admire your leadership of ECOWAS your strong voice on democracy, and your G20 international engagement, all of which are thrust Nigeria back onto the international stage.
“I also wanted, Mr. President, to use my goodwill message to confirm the UK is a renewed partnership with Nigeria and with your cabinet and with the Nigerian people. Nigeria really matters to the UK we share history, we share a commitment to democratic politics, we share interests in defence and security and trade and investment, which has strong people-to-people needs”, he said.
He applauded President Tinubu’s initiatives to enhance economic stability and steer the country towards a more prosperous growth trajectory.
He also added that the eight priorities of the present administration had provided clarity of purpose.
He said: “Your administration inherited big problems, It is a difficult time, people are hurting, and expectations are high better deliveries are desperately needed and with global context. Your eight priorities under your Renewed Hope Agenda you provide clarity of purpose, and your policy advisory committee has identified plans and performance indicators.”
Also delivering a goodwill message, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, disclosed that the bank has committed over $11 billion in the past three years for the government at both the federal and the sub-national levels.
Chaudhuri, who assured President Bola Tinubu of the Bank’s support in his administration’s incredibly important and challenging task of lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty and making lives better for everyone, noted that the country was at a critical juncture to either continue muddling through business as usual with the risk of things falling apart or have the courage to chart a new course, to take bold steps to finally see Nigeria rise to its true potential.
The World Bank Country rep said “I hope that through what we’ve been able to do we will be able to continue supporting you, as you realize this enormously important task.
“Although we are at the World Bank, we’re a development organization and over the last three and a half, four years that I’ve been here, our board has committed over $11 billion in financing for the government, and our financing is meant to go government at both the federal and at the sub-national levels. So we’re here to support your programmes, and we take guidance from you.
“But even though we have the World Bank in our name, I hope you will think of us as more than a bank. I mean, I really hope that we will be able to earn your trust that we have something more to offer in the nature of solutions to help you think through and then implement the priorities, the focus areas that you’ve laid out by bringing in ideas and experience.
“Financing is only part of the solution. It’s really the ideas and the vision. So you have my commitment. I and the team, the entire World Bank across the globe, we’re here to support you on that.
“I would also like to say that I feel particularly privileged to have been here in Nigeria these last four years, especially in the last few months at this critical juncture where Nigeria faced critical choice of whether to continue muddling through business as usual with the risk of things falling apart growing by the day or have the courage to chart a new course, to take bold steps to really finally see Nigeria rise to its true potential.”
Chaudhuri commended President Tinubu’s bold steps since the assumption of office to chart a new course for Nigeria to provide the renewed hope agenda that he promised the citizens.
Day one of the retreat dealt with administrative processes for the delivery of government policies, plans and projects.
The topics under this include the Roles and Responsibilities of Ministers handled by the former president of the senate and former SGF, Anyima Pius Anyim.
Management of the Federal Executive Council: Processes and Procedures by former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Oladapo Afolabi. Administrative processes, Reforms in the civil service and managing relations between the ministers, permanent secretaries and CEOs parastatals by Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan and Financial Regulations and Fiscal Management by Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatosin Madein.
Others are Federal Government Budget processes and the role of cabinet members, by the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze. Procurement processes in the public service, by former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and CEO, TBP Solutions Ltd, Emeka Ezeh, two separate sessions on Corruption: Nipping it in the bud by chairman EFCC, Ola Olukoyede and chairman ICPC, Musa Aliyu.
Others are Managing the relationship between the executive and the legislature- Expectations from ministers – by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Public Relations to Citizens Engagement and Town Hall meetings, by President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ike Neliaku and Ethics and Best practices in public communication by political office holders by Minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris.
