By Stanley Onyekwere
In a bid to make Abuja become one of the viable tourism centres of the world, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike has declared readiness to partner with the United Arab Emirates( UAE), in developing the tourism potential of the nation’s capital.
Making this disclosure yesterday, Wike said Abuja has notable tourism potentials that can be developed.
He made this assertion when he received in his office, the Ambassador of UAE to Nigeria, His Excellency, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, in Abuja.
The Minister noted that President Bola Tinubu had already started facilitating some processes that will make Nigeria’s mutual relationship with UAE stronger.
“We believe in the relationship that Mr. President is facilitating between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE). And it is important for the city (Abuja) to consolidate on it, and we will like to partner with United Arab Emirates. We have a lot in common.
“The United Arab Emirate especially Dubai city has become a tourist centre of the world, and that we also crave for, so that Abuja should also be a tourist centre.
“Therefore, we are open to discussions, and I believe that when Mr. President is coming (visiting for the conference), the FCT will partner be part of the delegation, so as to be able to discuss on tourism as an economic means to both countries.
“I’m glad that the relationship is getting better and better than what it used to be. I know for the President, governance is business, and whatever that is going to make Nigeria great is what he is going to stand for. So we are here as his foot soldiers to complement his effort to seeing that his renewed hope agenda is fulfiled”, Wike stressed.
Earlier in his remarks, the UAE Ambassador, told the Minister that he has always loved to partner with Nigerians on activities that will benefit both countries.
He disclosed that President has been officially invited to UAE, to attend the Convention on Climate Change (COP28) edition and hopefully it will be an opportunity to strike partnership between Nigeria and UAE.
“I love it here, and I love the people of Nigeria. I would always say that I’m representing UAE, and Nigeria too. President Tinubu is coming to UAE by the end of this month to attend the Convention on Climate Change (COP28) edition and that is going to be something great for us”, he stated.
