Nigeria ‘Ready for Business’, Shettima Tells Global Investors as Foreign Partners Eye Major Energy Deals
Nigeria’s investment climate received another strong vote of confidence on Tuesday as Vice-President Kashim Shettima reaffirmed the nation’s readiness to partner with global investors across strategic sectors of the economy.
During a courtesy visit by a high-powered delegation from Advanced Energy Partners to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima emphasised that the sweeping reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration were already unlocking new frontiers for growth. PulseNets learnt that the meeting centred on energy collaboration, upstream opportunities, and cross-sector investment partnerships.
According to the Vice-President, the administration’s policy direction is deliberately designed to open Nigeria further to foreign direct investment, enhance competitiveness, and rebuild investor confidence. He noted that the momentum of ongoing reforms signalled a turning point for the country.
“There is genuinely no better moment to invest in Nigeria than now. You have come at a time when committed leadership is driving economic transformation,” he said.
Shettima added that through targeted interventions and pro-market initiatives, the government was creating an environment that encourages long-term capital inflows and sustainable growth.
“Rest assured, you have placed your trust in the right nation. Nigeria is fully ready for business. We have crossed the Rubicon and are firmly on the course of sustainable development,” he told the visiting team.
The delegation, PulseNets obtained, consisted of top executives exploring opportunities in Nigeria’s upstream oil sector, energy infrastructure, and industrial development. The chairman of the consortium, Abu Ibrahim, highlighted that the team was on the ground to consolidate discussions and identify viable areas for long-term investment.
Similarly, QIANG Wenyu, Vice-President of China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), said the visit followed up on a previous engagement with President Tinubu in Beijing in September 2024. He reaffirmed the corporation’s long-standing interest in expanding its footprint in the Nigerian market.
“We remain committed to deepening cooperation with our Nigerian partners. Over the past year, we have been acting on our pledge, and we intend to accelerate that collaboration,” he stated.
Wenyu noted that NORINCO’s portfolio spans energy, oil and gas, defence, mining, and industrial development, with the firm posting a turnover of $30 billion last year—an indicator of its global capacity and stability.
From the UAE, Mahra Al Suwaidi, CEO of Horizon Energy, praised the direction of Nigeria’s leadership, saying the company’s renewed drive to invest stemmed from the confidence it had in the Tinubu administration and the professionalism of institutions such as NNPCL.
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Additionally, the UAE’s ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Al Shamsi, encouraged the consortium to seize existing opportunities without delay, reinforcing the country’s status as a prime destination for investors.
“Nigeria is the right place for investment, and this is the right government. Our bilateral and economic relations have strengthened significantly, with non-oil trade between our countries rising to 4.3 billion dollars in 2024,” he said.
