(Vice President’s Office Report) – Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigeria shall remain the most preferred investment destination in Africa, considering the various measures his administration has put in place to create the right environment for investments and businesses to thrive in the country. The president said this on Thursday March 13, 2014 at the commissioning of the multi-billion naira Procter and Gamble Plant in Agbara, Ogun State.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo added that his administration’s development strategy is towards transforming Nigeria, in order to ensure that investors’ trust in the stability, growth and development of the country is not misplaced. “In this respect, we have taken measures aimed at complementing the efforts of private sector organizations to enable Nigeria achieve its all-inclusive growth as well as job and wealth creation targets,” the President said.
He commended the Ogun State Government for creating conducive environments for business to thrive, describing the State as the most industrially developed in the country. He also expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to partner with the State in its developmental programmes.
President Jonathan revealed that the current administration has drawn out plans for the long awaited Lagos to Sokoto Express Road; indicating that the design for the contract which would be carried out under a public – private partnership would soon be completed.
He also stated that the contract for a standard gauge rail line to connect Lagos through Ogun State to Ibadan in Oyo State has been awarded. Also, the Olorunsogbo Power Plant in Ogun State has been successfully completed and privatized as the Federal Government is building an additional power transmission system as well as investing in the development of gas infrastructure to support the efforts of the State government.
The Nigerian President congratulated the management of Procter & Gamble for the successful completion and commissioning of the multi-billion naira Agbara Plant which he said was a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to ensuring excellent and timely project delivery. He added that this facility would go a long way in actualizing economic and social development in the country as well as the transformation drive of his administration.
He also commended the Procter and Gamble paying adequate attention to local content in its management structure; thereby demonstrating strong commitments to the growth of its operational environment.
In his remarks, the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun thanked the Nigerian Government for creating the enabling and conducive environment for business to thrive and for providing the necessary infrastructure for investments. He called on the government to do more, especially in the areas of infrastructure provision. He further appealed to the federal government to ensure the realization of the Lagos – Sokoto Express Road Project which was conceived several years ago, but has remained in the drawing board of previous administrations.
In the climax of the event, there was the cutting of tape performed by the representative of the President, Vice President Namadi Sambo to mark the commissioning of the plant. The Vice President was conducted round the newly commissioned facility where a practical demonstration of the plant flow process was carried out.
He averred at the commissioning ground that the newly opened Agbara Plant would add to the existing plants owned by the company in the country and would accommodate significant expansion of the current diaper lines and other category developments.
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