The federal government has said it is determined to build stronger ties with the European Union (EU) to tackle developmental issues affecting the country.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, stated this during a courtesy visit to him by members of the European Union Council Working Group on Africa.
Bagudu commended the growing relationship between the European Union and Nigeria and called for more collaboration in the areas of propagating democratic principles, climate change and migration and infrastructure while expressing hope that Nigeria will remain a market-oriented country with double-digit growth.
The minister assured the delegation that the FG has taken several measures to tackle the high inflation rate by reducing monetary supply, introducing more inflow of foreign exchange, boosting domestic production of agricultural products and manufacturing among other measures.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuella Isopi, affirmed the bloc’s readiness to deepen collaboration and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth. She lauded the positive outcomes of previous collaborations and expressed eagerness to advance initiatives like the Sustainable Investment Activation Agreement.
She reiterated the EU’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for increased investment in Nigeria. The Chairman of the Africa Working Party of the Council of the European Union, Yamina Gerfi, said the visit was to deepen understanding and cooperation with Nigeria. She highlighted the importance of engaging with diverse stakeholders to boost EU-Nigeria collaboration for the benefit of both parties.
