Tinubu Leaves Nigeria to Europe to Woo Investors

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The President-elect, Mr Bola Tinubu, has left the shores of Nigeria for Europe on a working visit, a statement from his team said.

He travelled out of the country on Wednesday afternoon and would be expected to woo investors on the continent as he prepares to assume office later this month.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in the United Kingdom for an extended stay because of an appointment with his dentist, is expected to hand over the reins of the country to Mr Tinubu on May 29, 2023.

In the statement today, it was disclosed that the President-elect will use the opportunity of his trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community, including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy, have been lined up.

He hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on job creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running, and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security,” a part of the statement said.

Before he left the country, Mr Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Tajudeen Abbas and Mr Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by Joint Task Team of the House.