Minister for Africa, United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Tobias Ellwood, said the United Kingdom would assist the Nigerian government in its bid to diversify her economy.
He spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt last week Thursday, when he had audience from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The Minister for Africa and Commonwealth Office and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, were in the state to seek closer ties.
The minister said the visit was also aimed at improving the relationship between the UK government and the Rivers State government.
Ellwood assured the Rivers State government of the support of the UK in her bid to empower Rivers people through project implementation.
Governor Wike said the state government had created the right platform for foreign direct investment in the agricultural sector, saying the state had started the preliminary process for the construction of a Specialist Tertiary Hospital.
Wike said the development of basic infrastructure across the state was geared towards attracting foreign investors.
While pledging to always cooperate with the UK to enhance the development of Rivers State, the governor noted that his administration would grant access to land backed with certificate of occupancy for willing investors.
“We are promoting partnership in the area of agriculture because we believe that it will create employment opportunities for our youths. The current economic recession requires that we look inwards. We have improved the security architecture in the state and it is the best investment environment in the region and the country,” he said.
