The Federal Government has reassured the international community of the safety of all participants during the World Economic Forum Africa meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja next month.
The Supervising Minister of National Planning, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda who made this known at a briefing in his office on Thursday also thanked the international community for their implicit confidence on the country and its economy, adding that the Government is doing its best to protect its citizens as well as foreigners.
He noted that the security sub-committee of the local organizing committee was given all the necessary attention and support because the country places high premium on the security of lives and property of Nigerians.
He said: “The security sub-committee of the local organizing committee is headed by the Inspector-General of police himself. That goes to show the importance we attaché to the safety of the delegates coming.
It is also our responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians before, during and after the event.
He added that President Goodluck Jonathan has given all the necessary support for the successful hosting of the event, adding that he (the Minister) met with the Inspector-General of police yesterday who confirmed that all security arrangements are already in place.
“Nigeria is guaranteeing the security of all the delegates and we shall do our best as a nation to ensure that the event holds without hitches. It is our responsibility to protect the lives of all the
delegates coming. Mr President is on top of the situation and has given all the support needed to ensure the success of the event.
“Don’t forget that recently, Mr President hosted a seminar on security which was attended by many African heads of state and other international leaders. That underscores the importance Mr President attaches to security.”
A release issued by the Minister’s Technical Adviser on Media, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze stated that Ambassador Yuguda maintained that Nigeria stands to benefit economically from hosting the event, stressing that the essence of the forum is in line with the Government’s Transformation Agenda.
“How do we create a conducive environment for the private sector to develop, How do we attract more foreign direct investment, How do we maintain and sustain the economic progress Nigeria is making”, the minister queried, adding that “these are all our interests which coincide with the aspirations of the world economic forum.
The theme of the forum is on increasing growth and job creation. The minister noted that the theme is totally in line with Nigeria’s aspirations. “It is in line with what Mr President is trying to do on how to make our growth inclusive.”
He also commended the World Economic Forum for issuing a statement to indicate that despite Nigeria’s security challenges, they are going ahead with the event because of their confidence in Nigeria. “We are hoping that this will be the best World Economic Forum Africa ever had”, he added.
According to him Nigeria had already hosted many international events this year including the Security Summit chaired by the President, the 12th Plenary of Innovative Financing for development as well as the meeting of African ministers of planning and finance. “there are no better testimony of the confidence of the international community on a nation and its economy than those indicators”, Yuguda further noted
