Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s several international travels was intended to drive investment to the country and repair Nigeria’s perception in the comity of nations.
Mohammed, who said Nigeria was becoming a “pariah state” under ex-president Jonathan, also defended the frequent travels that many commentators consider outrageous and frivolous.
The Minister, alongside his colleague, the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, stated this while speaking with reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the state house Abuja.
Mohammed was quoted as saying that: “You do not run a country by being isolated and the personal presence of the president in many of these fora is very important because before now we were almost a pariah state and the two things that have been driving investments away from this country are terrorism and corruption.”
“One thing that nobody can fault this president on is his determination to fight these two ills. Mr President’s presence in these fora is very crucial even to the economy back at home.”
“Before now the level of corruption was very high that nobody was ready to risk his investment in Nigeria. The cost of doing business was so high that most international businessmen didn’t want to come here. Who is coming to invest in a country where there is insecurity?”
On her part, the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, noted that the President’s travels were geared towards bringing more investment into the country.
“We hope to see the president going out and advocating for this country to get more investment so that we can take everyone out of poverty. That is really what is important. We see it as an investment with a return worthwhile.”
