FG assures international community of a peaceful World Economic Forum.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi has assured the international community of the Federal Government’s commitment and preparedness to host a peaceful and successful World Economic Forum in Africa.

Amb. Uhomoibhi gave this assurance while briefing members of the Diplomatic Corps on Nigeria’s state of preparedness to host it in spite of the security challenges facing the country. The briefing was held on 28th April, 2014 in Abuja.

He said it had become imperative to allay the fears of members of the Diplomatic Corps, in the wake of rising insurgency, especially in the North East, coupled with the unfortunate recent bomb explosion in Nyanya, Abuja.
“I want to assure you that the Federal Government has put necessary arrangements in place of beef up security and host a successful World Economic Forum.

On terrorism, he noted that it had no race, border and religion, other than that it is evil. He also quoted the President Goodluck Jonathan when he said,  “Terrorist attack against any country is terrorism against all nations.”

Amb. Uhomoibhi also said, the Forum will attract key players in the business sector all over the world.

In the same vein, the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah informed the diplomats that the Federal Government has put in place high security measures, and has stabilized traffic control in order to ease movement in and around Abuja.   He said, “Abuja, the host capital is safe.”

Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh noted that Nigeria was committed and has the capacity (and has resolved) to ensure the protection of lives and property.

Equally, the inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar gave the assurance that “all that have to be done have been done.”

Those who were at the interactive session include the representative of the Director General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and representative of the Director General of the State Sewcurity Service (SSS), the Director of Operations, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong as well as the chairman of Small Arms and Light Weapons Presidential Committee, Amb Emmanuel Imohe.

While also contributing at the briefing, the former Minister of Information and the Director-General of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Frank Nweke disclosed that about twenty five African Heads of States and Government have been invited.  He affirmed that logistics/protocol have been put in place to ensure a hitch free and successful hosting; adding that his group was collaborating with WEF Headquarters in Davos.

The Forum is expected to address issues of unemployment, investment opportunities by way of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), given Nigeria’s new GDP rate, which has ranked her as 26th largest economy in the World.

The World Economic Forum is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship.  This year’s theme is “Forging inclusive growth, creating jobs.”   This is apt for Nigeria’s Economic and Cultural Diplomacy.
As the foremost gathering on the continent, the World Economic Forum on Africa will hold from 7th to 9th May, 2014 in Abuja.  It will bring together regional and global leaders to discuss innovative structural reforms and investment that can sustain the continent’s growth, while creating jobs and prosperity for all its citizens.

The 24th World Economic Forum on Africa is an historic event taking place in Nigeria for the first time forty three years.