Nigeria keen on establishing sustainable investment climate – Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan

Nigeria keen on establishing sustainable investment climate – Jonathan
Uche Aneke, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan says his administration is working hard to check terrorism and piracy, as part of efforts to provide a sustainable environment for trade and investments in Nigeria.

The President, who spoke while receiving Mr. Alain Juppe, French Foreign Minister, who visited him in the State House, Abuja as part of the activities of his visit to Nigeria appealed for French support to check terrorism and piracy.

He expressed appreciation to French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his consistent support for and friendship with Nigeria and Africa. He said President Sarkozy’s robust support and friendship had enabled Nigeria and ECOWAS to successfully restore peace in Cote d’Ivoire.

Democratic stability

He noted that democratic political stability has returned to Africa, although in some African countries, the major challenge still remained the attempt by the incumbents to stay in power beyond constitutional mandates, or to insist on anointing their successors.

While deploring this, President Jonathan pointed out that much progress was being made across the continent, and that Africa’s success stories should be encouraged.

He also said his proposed seven-year single tenure for Nigeria’s President has been misunderstood by those who think he wants to add that term to his current one, pointing out that the proposal was anchored on the need for an incumbent President to focus maximum attention on the execution of his development programmes, instead of expending vital energy on re-election issues.  
 
Earlier, Mr. Alain Juppe, the French Foreign Minister, said he held very constructive discussions with his Nigerian counterpart, in the areas of agriculture, energy, aviation and mining.

He said France would support commitments at ensuring development in Africa, despite concerns raised about political and economic stability as well as piracy and terrorist activities in some parts of the continent.

Ekata