The Federal Government has assured Nigerian auto spare-parts dealers in Angola of its commitment to protecting their investments and promoting the interests of Nigerians living and doing business abroad.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance on the margins of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Dr Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media in the minister’s office.
The assurance followed the minister’s inspection of facilities at Cidade De Motores, or “City of Engines”, Golf 2, in Luanda.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility is where members of the Nigerian Auto Spare-Parts Dealers Association conduct their businesses.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed pride in the achievements of the Nigerian traders, describing them as evidence of the pioneering spirit of Nigerians abroad.
“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground.
“We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some stories would be told about their investment,” she said.
The minister said the protection of Nigerian businesses should be prioritised in future bilateral engagements with Angola, especially through the Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.
She also assured the traders of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians abroad, saying the government had taken steps to protect citizens facing challenges in foreign countries.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the dealers to remain law-abiding and good ambassadors of Nigeria.
She encouraged them to make the market a model of unity and inclusiveness, warning against ethnic discrimination in its management.
“There should be no room for tribalism,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Chuks Ukachi, President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, thanked the minister for visiting the market in spite of her busy schedule in Angola.
Ukachi said the project was conceived after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from operating along the roadside, leaving many without businesses for about two years.
He appealed to the Federal Government to support efforts to secure and protect the market, which he said represented significant investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs.
According to him, the market is open to Nigerians and Angolans interested in the spare-parts business and is intended to project a positive image of Nigeria.
“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” Ukachi said. (NAN)
