- President Weah of Liberia appeals to President Buhari to help in reviving Liberia’s economy
- He said he will frequently seek President Buhari’s advice as he embarks on rebuilding his country's economy
- The newly elected Liberian president also appeals to the Nigerian private sector to invest in Liberia’s economy
Liberian President George Weah on Monday, March 5, visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and appealed to Nigeria to come to the rescue of his Liberia's economy.
President Weah said though Liberians had voted for change by electing him as president, mere political change is meaningless without development, growth and prosperity, Daily Trust reports.
NAIJ.com gathered that he said his administration needs Nigeria’s help to achieve its set objectives.
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Weah also appealed to Nigerian banks, which he said dominated Liberia, not to shut down businesses because of the country’s (Liberia's) current economic downtown.
He said he will regularly seek Buhari's wise counsel and advice as he (Weah) embarked upon the arduous task of nation-building, reconstruction and transformation of Liberia.
He lamented the falling prices of Liberia's two basic export commodities, rubber and iron ore, which reportedly diminished the country's market.
Weah said his delegation was on a mission of gratitude and respect for the extraordinary and exceptional role Nigerians had played and continued to play in maintaining peace and stability in the West African sub-region, particularly, in Liberia.
He said though Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with its most powerful army in the sub-region, it had never used its wealth and military prowess to expand its territory, threaten its neighbours or destabilise any sovereign nation in the region.
His words: "Our people have voted for change, and for hope. And change is finally here. But mere political change is meaningless without development, prosperity, and growth. Your Excellency, we need Nigeria's help to jump-start our economy.
"You played a major role in bringing peace to Liberia you reformed our army and today it is performing its duties to the highest professional standards.
“As we speak, they are serving in a peace-keeping mission in Mali You have also built and expanded the capacities of Liberians in so many ways. For example, during our recent observance of Armed Forces Day in Liberia, we were informed that two of our military personnel will soon be graduating as pilots from one of your esteemed institutions.
"We would like to see a continuation and expansion of that program, for both men and women. My administrations' Pro-Poor Development Agenda, is intended to tackle the many economic and social problems that my Government has inherited, especially in addressing the large fiscal and infrastructure deficits, the urgent problem of youth unemployment, and reviving the education, agriculture, mining and health sectors.
"Your sustained technical assistance for capacity building in these sectors is most welcome.
"For example, Nigerian teachers and medical volunteers to Liberia, under the Technical Assistance Corps TAC) Agreement with Liberia, have been very crucial in boosting capacity development in Liberia, and it is my hope that this assistance can be considerably increased to address with urgency our most pressing socio-economic needs at this time.”
President Weah emphasises that Liberia is open for business, appealing to the Nigerian private sector to invest in the country.
He added that there was a need to address the current volume of trade between Nigeria and Liberia "which is very low and does not exceed million, by some estimates."
He said: "Yet, the Liberian banking sector is dominated by Nigerian banks, and I am made to understand that their head offices in Nigeria may be considering reducing their support or even shutting them down because of the recent downturn in our economy.
"If this is true, l urge them not to do so, as l am optimistic that trade and commerce will increase in the near future, There are also major shortcomings in the electricity and power sectors, in road construction, in housing, in mining, and in fisheries, to name a few, that could be of serious interest to Nigerian investors, either as individuals or companies, or through joint-ventures or public-private partnerships.
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"We invite all of you to come to Liberia and explore the many new opportunities for investment that are bound to increase under this new political dispensation. I promise you that you will find a government that is not only business friendly but ready to do business."
NAIJ.com previously reported that President Weah called on the Nigerian government to provide 6000 teachers to his country as part of the technical assistance agreement between the two nations.
Speaking on Monday, March 5, shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the State House Presidential Villa in Abuja, Weah said his government inherited many problems which can only be tackled with assistance from countries like Nigeria.
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Source: Naija.ng