The Federal 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.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during an inspection of the Cidade De Motores (City of Engines) in Golf 2, Luanda, where the Nigerian Auto Parts Dealers Association has established a major market.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the project as a demonstration of the pioneering spirit of Nigerians and a model of what Nigerians can achieve 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.
The minister said the protection of Nigerian businesses would be prioritised in future bilateral engagements with Angola, particularly at the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.
She also assured the traders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the welfare and protection of Nigerians wherever they reside, urging them to remain law-abiding and serve as good ambassadors of the country.
The minister further cautioned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market, stressing that “there should be no room for tribalism.”
Earlier, President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Chuks Ukachi, said the market was established after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from operating along the roadside, leaving many members without business for about two years.
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Ukachi said the facility was open to all Nigerians and Angolans interested in the business and was designed to project a positive image of Nigeria.
The association appealed to the Federal Government to support efforts to secure and protect the market, which represents a significant investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs in Angola.
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