The former Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson took over the stage and declare Nigeria safe.
According to Boris Johnson , “When I decided to come to Owerri, I read some stuff and some people said there may be some security problems and I said, well I’m gonna go anyway, but we are here today in this conference and we are all feeling safe and secured, and I feel perfectly safe, thank you Governor Hope Uzodimma for what you are doing, there’s rule of law and safety on the streets of Owerri, absolutely and on infrastructure, that’s a fantastic job and your focus on electricity is absolutely right”, Johnson submitted.
Johnson appeared not to have come for any investment but with overwhelming excitement and gratifying words portrayed a man who rather came to savour Imo, nay Nigeria, than bother about economic investment at the moment. Johnson, indeed, loves Nigeria deeply.
This, he confessed boldly. Though the erstwhile UK Prime Minister began with a story of how Nigeria has become the preferred destination for great investors, his admiration of Nigerians’ global excellence in various sectors such as economy, sports, entertainment, took the better part of his speech. He disclosed how happy he was when Uzodimma beckoned on him to come to Imo.
Meanwhile, Renowned industrialist and widely recognised Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, seemed most prepared among participants at the Imo State Economic Summit held in Owerri on Thursday and Friday.
Clad in dark blue traditional kaftan-style outfit, loose-fitting and long-sleeved, with a matching embroidery patterned cap, and dark-framed glasses; Dangote walked up to the podium like one eager to make a transformational declaration. He did, of course.
As he commenced his speech, twice he suspected the microphone wasn’t working well, typical of one who never wanted any technical glitches to interrupt his message of hope to Imo. And twice he was assured and reassured by the hall filled to the brim that his voice was loud enough.
While previous speakers had dwelt more on eulogising Governor Hope Uzodimma and highlighting the need to explore the enormous investment opportunities in Imo State, Dangote opted to take the bull by the horn. Without much ado, he told Uzodimma, what a convener of such summit would want to hear, by offering the governor, whom he acknowledged has been a friend for decades, a blank cheque.
“We will be one of your biggest investors in Imo, so please tell me the area to invest and we will invest”, Dangote announced. With such offer coming from a man whose refinery is set to launch 1.4 million barrels per day capacity, the highest by any single refinery in the world; Uzodimma could not have wished for a better summit result.
Imo boasts of huge gas deposit, limestone, arable land for agriculture, and other minerals. The ball is therefore, now in Uzodimma’s court to direct Dangote to the area that would give the state the economic leap that had eluded it for nearly 50 years.
#VANGUARD
