Foreign Investors Shun Nigeria Over Negative Publicity Of Security Challenges — Sani Bello

Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Niger State and Chairman of the North Central States Governors Forum (NCSGF), stated on Sunday that negative information about Nigeria’s security concerns has hampered real investors’ efforts to invest in the nation.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Mary Noel-Berje, the Governor of Niger State’s Chief Press Secretary, he noted that negative publicity around security concerns has harmed numerous states in the country’s efforts to attract foreign direct or indirect investment.

He went on to say that the federal and state administrations are now addressing those issues successfully.

Governor Sani Bello, who is in Istanbul, Turkey for a bilateral economic, trade, and investment forum, said the Nigerian government has made considerable progress in resolving insecurity issues, adding that while it will take time to resolve, it should not prevent investors from coming to Nigeria.

“I know a few Turkish companies that are in Nigeria at the moment. They are doing their business and doing really well. So, I think there’s the need to build investors confidence with regards to the security challenges in Nigeria”, he added.

After meeting with a number of Turkish firms, the Governor remarked that while many of them expressed interest in working in Nigeria, most foreign firms lacked the confidence to visit and do business in the country.

The Governor praised the forum’s organizers for what he called a “very timely occasion,” according to the release.

He did recommend, however, that more Turkish companies and/or CEOs be invited the next time so that they can convey to the Turkish people that Nigeria is not as horrible as it has been depicted.

He said “there’s the urgent need to change the narrative and to mount aggressive image laundering campaigns to change the negative perception and impression of foreign investors towards our country. Every country of the world has its own peculiar challenges, but they are surmountable.

“I am glad we are able to attend the bilateral economic, trade and investment forum. We’ve met with lots of companies, including security companies as well. In my opinion, the event was timely and the organizers did a wonderful job”, he said.