Nigeria
is to strengthen the joint action between its security forces and their
foreign counterparts as it seeks solutions to its security challenges.
President Goodluck Jonathan said during
the opening of the 12th meeting of the Honourary International Investors
Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, the step was
aimed at making the country investors’ preferred destination.
He said, “On the issue of security, we
are building the capacity of the police and other related agencies to
fight crimes and defeat terrorism.
“We have also strengthened coordinated joint action between our security agencies and their counterparts abroad.
“The recent overhaul of our security
team should herald a fresh approach towards frontally tackling our
security challenge in all its ramifications.”
Jonathan said his administration was not
comfortable with the country’s poor rating by the Business Segment of
the World Bank Group, the Global Competitiveness Index of the World
Economic Forum and the World Investment Report of the United Nations
Commission for Trade and Development.
According to him, this informed the
government’s transformation agenda aimed at turning Nigeria’s huge
potential into developmental realities.
Jonathan said he had approved the
setting up of the Nigerian National Competitiveness Council in line with
the recommendation of the World Economic Forum.
He said the council would be
responsible for creating awareness on national competitiveness and
coordinating the efforts of both the public and private sectors to
improve the nation’s competitiveness.
The President added that the
Competition, Anti-Trust and Consumer Protection Bill was in the process
of being finalised by the National Council on Privatisation for onward
processing to the National Assembly for passage.
Jonathan said to improve the customs’
efficiency and foster collaboration with relevant government agencies,
his administration was taking measures to modernise the Nigerian Customs
Service.
He said the government intended to
review the service’s legislation; introduce the Single Window concept;
and introduce Ports and Customs reforms with emphasis on both trade
facilitation and revenue generation.
The President said, “Our administration
is more than ever committed to improving the economy, fighting
corruption, developing infrastructure and ensuring the security of lives
and property.”
Giving an update on the last council
meeting held in 2011 in Paris, France, the Executive Secretary of the
Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mr. Mustafa Bello, said the
council observed the critical role of the power sector in national
development and suggested that the approach be more aggressive and
realistic on attainment of targets as encapsulated in the power sector
roadmap.
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