From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquire has said that contrary to perception and notions in France that Nigeria is a terrorist country, the envoy said he has completely seen the opposite.
He rather described Nigeria as a sprawling investment hub where French investors are at liberty to invest their wealth for rapid biliteral economic ties to be fully consolidated for the benefits of the two countries.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after being conducted round the permanent site of the Dala In Land Dry Port by the Managing Director of the Company, Ahamad Rabiu in Kano on Tuesday, the French envoy stated that it took him a painstaking pain to convince investors
in France to agree that they can invest in the country without hinderence.
According to him, his visit to Kano state, the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria and sub-saharan Africa had made him to be fully convinced that all what was said against Nigeria in France is not true.
Pasquire added that in France, he had to take a painstaking effort to convinve his countrymen to comprehend the fact that Nigeria is not a country of terrorists as it was wrongly perceived, adding that the country is on the priority of the French government in the area of trade and investment.
According to him, the two countries have possessed the much needed potentials to forge ahead in the economic sphere in the face of the abundant resources Nigeria is endowed with.
The Envoy stated that the French government had already made sustained efforts, aimed at consolidating the ties for a robust business atmosphere to thrive at the time the quest for investment was high.
He said” our people have a wrong notion of Nigeria as far as the issue of insecurity and terrorism is concerned. As one representing the interest of our country, we are saddled with the pain of convincing our people to understand the simple fact that Nigeria is a great investment hub. The country have the much needed potentials to be relied upon in terms of trade and investment.
“We are here in Kano today and saw the potentials of Kano as a sprawling commercial nerve centre. We are also impressed with the hospitality we have received.
“We are hoping to build and consolidate trade and investment ties with notable business tycoons like Adenuga, Dangote and others across the country. the issue of investment is the prevailing vogue all over the country” he remarked.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of Dala in Land Dry Port, Alhaji Ahamad Rabiu said, the decision effected for the establishment of a formidable dry port in Kano was to reduce the persistent gridlocks at the TinClcan Island for the business of exporting goods out of the country to be enhanced.
He added that the rail line project in Kano at the behest of the Federal Government would be a major catalyst towards achieving the desired goals.
While thanking governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for strongly supporting the conception and the eventual establishment of the Dala in Land Dry Port, the Managing Director however stated that the Port is poised to be used as a launch-pad for cargoes’ operations via the rail line.
He stressed that with the giant strides so far effected, French investors would be convinced that the country mean business.
The Managing Director also revealed that Kano State Government had disbursed 2.3 billion Naira for the provision of infrastructures for the take-up operation of Inland Dry Port, Kumbotso Kano, sometimes last year, and already they have fully commences work since.
He explained that the infrastructure to be provided by the state government includes access road, perimeter fence, water and electricity among others, which already have them in place.
The Managing Director who was a former commissioner of Commerce in Kano explained that the Inland Dry Port was approved by the federal government for over ten years, but the project was in a coma until the present administration in Kano approved the disbursement.
Rabiu Ahmed noted that the project when completed would provide thousands of job opportunities to the teeming youths and boost the state IGR as well as promote export not only in Kano but the zone.
