Abuja, Sept. 27, 2023: Vice President Kashim Shettima has pledged the determination of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide an enabling environment for business to thrive in the country.
Shettima made the pledge when he hosted the management of First Surat Group and top management of MTN Nigeria at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The vice president emphasised the need for local and foreign investors to make Nigeria their investment hub.
Shettima particularly urged MTN Nigeria to facilitate and spearhead digital mobile money and digital education.
He assured the company that the Federal Government was committed to removing all obstacles militating against businesses.
The vice president promised that Nigeria’s economy would pick up massively in less than 15 months.
He, therefore, urged the telecommunication giant to consider fastracking digital mobile money, as well as digital education in Nigeria.
He said that the Tinubu’s administration was willing to partner with various stakeholders in the quest to help boost the nation’s productivity base and generate rapid employment.
Shettima commended the professionalism and devotion of Surat Group, which runs Nizamiye Hospital, Nizamiye Foundation, as well as an array of educational institutions.
Shettima said that by extension, the group, with its 2,500 members of staff, caters for over 100,000 extended families and dependents.
The vice president, however , told the group that agriculture remained key to the Nigerian economy.
” You may wish to consider divesting from the health and education sectors where you have distinguished yourself and delve into agric business where we have huge investment potential.
” I assure you that my principal is creating the right environment for businesses to thrive. Property rights will be enforced and no one will be deprived of their rights.
” We need foreign direct investment right now more than ever before. Reach out to us and we will support you to succeed,” he said.
Shettima said gone were the days of double taxation and unnecessary bottlenecks, adding that Tinubu’s policy on the ease of doing business would be carried to the later.
He said: ” I have never seen anyone committed to revamping Nigeria’s economy like President Tinubu. Yes, we may be facing challenges but believe me, in no distant time the country will be better off for it.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the group, Dr Ali Maina, said aside from the company’s vast interest and strategic partnerships, its corporate social responsibility had seen it investing millions of naira on the lives and welfare of Nigerians.
On his part, the MTN’s Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe and Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, assured that the telecoms firm remained committed to Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
They promised that in no distant time, MTN Nigeria would birth the much needed 5D network in Nigeria.
