Oborevwori promises investors less bureaucratic bottlenecks at Nigeria-Namibia summit

Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, has said that his administration “has been working tirelessly to create an enabling environment for business to thrive across the state through the Ministry of Trade and Investments and Delta State Investments Development Agency.”

The governor said, “Delta State, with its strategic location in the Niger Delta region, has numerous investment opportunities in key sectors, including tourism, oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing and creative industries, such as music, film, arts, ICT, among others.”

To this end, Oborevwori said, “Delta State government places much premium on the ease of doing business hence the present administration has simplified procedure or regulatory process and reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks to boost entrepreneurship, create jobs, attract foreign investment, increase competitiveness, enhance economic stability and finally lead to economic growth.”

These were contained in an address by Governor Oborevwori to the one-day Namibia-Delta Trade and Investment Summit 2024, held at PIND Economic Development Centre, Egbokodo Itsekiri, via Ubeji, in Warri, Delta State on Monday.

Themed ‘Unlocking New Trade and Investment Opportunities,’ the summit had in attendance dignitaries including Namibia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, His Excellency, Humphrey Geiseb; the governor of Delta State, Hon. Oborevwori, represented by the state Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Samuel Oligida; the Olu of Warri, His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, represented by the Olujimi of Warri kingdom, Chief (Dame) Ebiyemi Omatseye; the honourable Consul of Namibia to Lagos, Mr Chuma Anosike; the President of Namibia-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ben Gbade Ojo; the chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Namibia-Delta Trade and Investment Summit, Pastor (Mrs) Chinyere Umeasiegbu; as well as captains of industry, in their numbers, from both Namibia and Nigeria, among others.

Governor Oborevwori reiterated that his administration is ready to partner with investors from within and outside the country, stressing that “the state government has implemented various action plans aimed at promoting trade and investments.”

He declared, “Delta State is open for business and we invite you to join us on this mass movement to unlock new trade and investment opportunities in the Niger Delta.”

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III in his royal message to the Namibia-Delta Trade and Investment Summit commended the organizers, saying that “such an initiative like this should be further encouraged.”

The monarch emphasized the need for African countries to step up doing business with one another as, according to him, lots of untapped opportunities abound.

He remarked that “if there is any gateway for Nigeria and Namibia to engage in any form of bilateral business interactions, it should be from the Niger Delta region, as anyone who comes to Niger Delta will not want to miss out from the available opportunities.”

Also addressing the forum, the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Geiseb chronicled an array of trade and investment opportunities available in Namibia for Nigerian investors, particularly from the Niger Delta region, as well as in the Niger Delta for Namibian entrepreneurs.

The Namibian envoy explained that the investment summit “aimed at providing business and trade opportunities available in Namibia to business people from Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. On the other hand, we (Namibians) are also interested to learn of similar trade and business opportunities that are available for us in the Niger Delta.”

He spoke further, “In Namibia, we are looking for investors, business people, in a variety of sectors in agriculture, mining, oil and gas sectors.

“Nigerian firms can explore opportunities in our marine diamond mining as well as in the oil and gas sector, just to mention a few.

“If we take advantage of opportunities in our various countries, there are lots and lots of products that we can jointly turn into the market.  If we come together, if we get to know of opportunities available in our different countries and tap into them, surely the sky is the limit.

“Presently, our main export to Nigeria from Namibia is salt, which is exported largely from Namibia to Lekki, Lagos industrial hub where it is eventually processed into edible salt widely known as ‘Mr. Chef.’ We are doing this so that we can expand from salt to other products and other industries.”

Speaking in the same vein, the President of the Namibia-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Gbade Ojo stated that the summit “marked another significant milestone in the ongoing continental journey towards the path of trade among Africans and within Africa.”

Ojo affirmed that “the summit is a landmark event focusing on the enhancement of regional values which will, no doubt, catalyze productivity and innovation.”

He submitted that “the boosting of intra-African trade and the deepening of Africa’s market integration, by fostering cooperation, collaboration and indeed competition among African countries will assist in embracing their capacity and prepare them to compete more effectively on the global market,” stressing that “this is what the Chamber of Commerce is promoting”.

Pastor (Mrs) Chinyere Umeasiegbu, the Chairperson, Organizing Committee of the Namibia-Delta Trade and Investment Summit had earlier told the gathering that “there are so many untapped opportunities in Namibia, for Nigerian investors to take advantage of explaining that “it is going to be a sort of rewarding symbiotic relationship with reciprocal advantages.”

Caption: Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, His Excellency, Humphrey Geiseb (third from right) with the representative of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olujimi if Warri, Chief (Mrs) Ebiyemi Omatseye, (fourth from right) and other dignitaries at the Namibia-Delta Trade and Investment Summit.

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