FCT Minister harps on investment potentials

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has highlighted potential areas of investment in the FCT, that will add value to the nation’s capital and ensure adequate returns for investors.

Bello listed the areas to include: road, rail and power infrastructure as well as agriculture and municipal waste management.

He spoke when he received a delegation from the International Headquarters of the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) led by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria HE, Mr. Cui Jianchun recently.

In a statement from Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, yesterday, Bello, also advised that the company should consider focusing more on long term investment in the FCT rather than on its current business strategy of serving as contractors.

He equally expressed the appreciation of the FCT Administration to the CCECC for its Corporate Social Responsibility activities in the FCT which included the construction of about 3 kilometers of barrier along the Kubwa Expressway, at Dei-Dei to encourage pedestrians to use the pedestrian bridges.

He also thanked the Chinese Government for the establishment of the China Assisted Primary School in Nyanya and commended the cordial relationship that exists between China and Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria thanked the FCT Minister for the warm reception accorded to his delegation and also expressed his appreciation to the FCTA for providing an enabling environment for CCECC to work in the FCT, while assuring of China’s desire to carry out more projects in the Federal Capital Territory.

He disclosed that China was already developing a new strategy of cooperation between the two countries with more focus on Communication, Security and International co-operations.

The Ambassador said the new strategy was aimed at building harmonious societies through more economic collaborations for mutual development of individual economies.

He used the occasion to also disclose China’s intention to establish a demonstration farm in Abuja as part of its collaboration with Nigeria towards ensuring food security in the country.

Also speaking, the Chairman of CCECC, Mr Liu Weimin commended the Minister for the great work he has done in changing the face of the FCT for the better and implored for the CCECC to be a part of the Abuja success story of becoming a world class city.

Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed, Chairman of CCECC Nig Ltd, Mr Jason Zhang,s Managing Director, CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Mr David Wang and other senior officials of the FCTA and CCECC.