Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said that the country and some members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have rare mineral resources that some global industries could be built on.
Tuggar made this known at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja and attended by heads of states, foreign affairs ministers among others.
At the event, the minister noted: “We could think of similar examples of what we can offer in the international market where we can do better. Bring that investment; bring that local processing and let us see our transport, economic infrastructure and other building blocks for prosperity grow.”
He called on the region to see the future and take control of its destiny by demonstrating that West Africa can deliver the states, where government, industries and other stakeholders can meet and make deals without shivering.
He asserted that West Africa, which has the skill, talent and critical mass, was an equal partner in international trade but was left behind during the industrial revolution, leaving it to struggle for fair market access and finance.
According to Tuggar, the market competition by countries of the region is healthy and it is in the interest of all to sustain it and make it positive for all stakeholders.
