The Nigerian Government has assured Nigerian auto spare-parts dealers in Angola of its commitment to protecting their investments and promoting the interests of Nigerians living and doing business abroad.
In a statement by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr Magnus Eze, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance while inspecting facilities at Cidade De Motores, also known as City of Engines, in Golf 2, Luanda, where the Nigerian Auto Parts Dealers Association has established a major automobile parts market.
The minister visited the facility on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed pride in the achievement of the Nigerian traders, describing the project as a demonstration of the “pioneering spirit of Nigerians” and a model of what Nigerians can accomplish abroad.
“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,” she said.
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The minister said the protection of Nigerian businesses would be prioritised in future bilateral engagements with Angola, particularly during the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.
She further assured the traders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the wellbeing of Nigerians wherever they reside, adding that the government had taken steps to protect Nigerians facing challenges in other countries.
The minister urged the dealers to remain law-abiding and serve as good ambassadors of Nigeria, while encouraging them to use the market as a model of unity and inclusiveness.
She particularly cautioned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the facility, stressing that “there should be no room for tribalism.”
Earlier, President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Mr. Chuks Ukachi, thanked the minister for visiting the market despite her busy schedule in Angola.
Ukachi explained that the project was conceived after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from operating along the roadside, leaving many members without businesses for about two years.
He said the market was open to Nigerians and Angolans interested in the auto spare-parts business, stressing that the facility was established to project a positive image of Nigeria.
“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” Ukachi said.
The association appealed to the Federal Government to support efforts to secure and protect the market, describing it as a significant investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs in Angola.
