ABUJA — The Federal Government has pledged to protect Nigerian-owned businesses and investments in Angola, as it moves to make the issue a priority in future bilateral engagements with the southern African country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during a visit to Cidade De Motores, also known as City of Engines, in Golf 2, Luanda, where Nigerian auto spare-parts dealers have established a major trading market.
The minister said the protection of Nigerian businesses would be prioritised during the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission, stressing that the government would not allow Nigerians to invest abroad only to have their investments subsequently undermined.
“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground. We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some phony stories would be told about their investment,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
The minister, who inspected facilities at the market on the sidelines of the just-concluded 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, described the project as evidence of the “pioneering spirit of Nigerians” and a model of what Nigerians can achieve abroad.
She said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the wellbeing of Nigerians wherever they live and conduct business, adding that the government had taken steps to protect Nigerians facing difficulties in other countries.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, however, urged the traders to remain law-abiding and uphold Nigeria’s reputation while operating in Angola.
She also called for unity among the dealers and cautioned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market.
“There should be no room for tribalism,” the minister said.
The market was established by Nigerian auto-parts dealers after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from conducting business along the roadside, according to the President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Chuks Ukachi.
Ukachi said the disruption left many Nigerian traders without business for about two years, prompting the association to develop the current market as a more structured trading centre.
He thanked the minister for visiting the facility despite her engagements in Angola and appealed for further Federal Government support to secure and protect the market.
Ukachi said the facility was designed to accommodate both Nigerians and Angolans interested in the auto-parts business and to demonstrate a positive image of Nigeria abroad.
“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” he said.
The association said securing the market remained important because of the significant investment Nigerian entrepreneurs had committed to the project.
The Federal Government’s intervention comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its economic and diplomatic engagement with other African countries while supporting Nigerian businesses and citizens operating abroad.
