Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom, has stated that the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria was not a threat to investment in the country.
He made the disclosure while responding to questions from journalists during the recent 7th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment meeting held in Makurdi last week.
Chief Dr. Ortom stated that the quick response of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to the challenge as well as measures put in place to check the escalation of the situation had built confidence in those who do business with Nigeria such that the inflow of their investments have not been disrupted.
While responding to another question he said he believed that the policies and strategies put in place by the current administration such as the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan would not be reversed by subsequent administrations.
According to the Minister the policies were based on international best practices and global inputs and can only be revised from time to time in order to accommodate current situations.
He stressed that with concerted efforts from major stakeholders in the country Nigeria has remained the greatest investment destination in Africa since 2012.
Delivering the keynote address of his boss, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister had urged the council and all stakeholders to make concerted efforts to build an economy based on industry, value addition, enterprise development and strategic trade policies.
“It is my since hope that all the proposals will be successfully implemented in order to generate employment and empower Nigerians,” he stated.
Benue State Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, represented by his deputy, Chief Steve Lawani, had advised the council to address the challenges of reducing the nation’s overdependence on imported raw materials for industries in the country.
State Commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Mr. Terfa Ihindan, had listed the strengthening of enterprises in the state with financial management skills by way of loans and capacity building as well as training of over 2000 participants at the Entrepreneurship Development Centre as well as graduates at various vocational centers as part of measure to boost economic activities in the state.