No Better Time to Choose Nigeria Than Now, Tinubu Tells Foreign Investors at Bauchi Summit
In a powerful address aimed at the global investment community, President Bola Tinubu has declared that the present moment represents an unparalleled opportunity for international capital to flow into Nigeria. Speaking at the inaugural Bauchi Investment Summit, the President laid out a compelling economic case, pointing to significant improvements in the nation’s fiscal health and growth metrics as evidence of a country on the rise.
The summit, themed “Revealing a Resilient Economy: Optimising Investment Partnerships,” was orchestrated by the Bauchi State Government to showcase the region’s vast and often untapped potential. Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu’s message was one of confident invitation, backed by hard data and a clear vision for the future.
A Nation Rebounding: Tinubu’s Economic Scorecard
The core of the President’s appeal rested on a series of promising economic indicators. He revealed that Nigeria’s external reserves have climbed to a robust $43 billion as of September, a figure that signals strengthened national liquidity and economic stability. This financial cushion is a critical factor for investors assessing country risk and the ease of repatriating profits.
Furthermore, President Tinubu highlighted a dramatic turnaround in one of the nation’s most pressing fiscal challenges. “We came to office promising to turn around the fortunes of the country while the debt service to revenue ratio had shot up to about 100 per cent,” he stated. “Today, we are pleased to share that we have reduced it to less than 50 per cent.” This reduction effectively frees up substantial government revenue for infrastructure and development projects, rather than merely servicing existing debt.
Adding to this positive narrative, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate was reported at 4.23 per cent in the previous month, with oil revenues surging by an impressive 411 per cent. “I assure investors that there is no better time to join Nigeria than now,” the President concluded, framing the current administration’s first year as a period of foundational repair and renewed momentum.
Bauchi State: A Microcosm of Nigeria’s Investment Potential
While the national picture provided the backdrop, the summit itself was a deep dive into the specific opportunities within Bauchi State. President Tinubu pinpointed several sectors where the state holds a competitive advantage and is ripe for development.
Transforming Agriculture and Powering Industry
With its vast expanses of arable land, Bauchi is positioned to become a hub for climate-smart agriculture and commercial outgrower schemes. The President suggested that investors could partner with local farmers to boost production of staple crops and cash crops for both domestic consumption and export, leveraging modern techniques to ensure sustainability.
Beyond agriculture, the state’s natural assets extend to energy and tourism. “Its renewable and gas potentials could power industrial processes through public private partnership,” Tinubu noted, pointing to a future where reliable, locally-sourced energy drives manufacturing and other value-added industries. Simultaneously, the region’s rich cultural heritage and natural landmarks present a significant opportunity to develop the tourism and hospitality sector, creating jobs and attracting domestic and international visitors.
A Governor’s Pledge: Safety and Support for Investors
Echoing the President’s welcoming stance, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed made an unequivocal commitment to prospective investors. “We will make you and your investment safer than us. We will make you more important than us,” he promised, a bold statement intended to assuage any concerns about security and the business environment.
Governor Mohammed also outlined concrete plans to support economic development, focusing on critical infrastructure. “We are going to do a lot in terms of water resource management so that all our local government areas will have water to be driven by solar and gravity at a minimal cost,” he said. This commitment to providing affordable utilities is a key enabler for agribusiness and manufacturing, addressing one of the common operational challenges faced by industries in the region.
A Call for Accountability from Northern Leadership
The summit also featured a pivotal contribution from a key traditional ruler, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. He struck a note of cautionary wisdom, urging his fellow leaders to move beyond rhetoric and focus on tangible outcomes.
The Sultan tasked political and traditional leaders across Northern Nigeria to actively monitor the various commitments, summits, and conferences being held. His call was for a system of evaluation to measure performance and ensure that the promises made at such forums translate into real-world development for the people. This emphasis on accountability and good governance underscores a growing recognition that sustainable investment requires a stable, transparent, and performance-driven partnership between the public and private sectors.
The Road Ahead: From Potential to Partnership
The maiden Bauchi Investment Summit represents more than just a single event; it is a signal of a shifting economic strategy in Nigeria. The Tinubu administration is actively courting foreign direct investment (FDI) as a primary engine for growth, moving to rebuild international confidence through transparent reporting of economic progress.
For potential investors, the path forward is clear. President Tinubu explicitly urged them to “engage with the state governments and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government to access support.” This indicates a coordinated, multi-level government approach designed to streamline the investment process and provide the necessary backing for successful ventures.
The combination of improving national economic indicators, state-level guarantees of safety and support, and a focus on high-potential sectors like agriculture, energy, and tourism, creates a compelling proposition. The message from Bauchi is unified: Nigeria is open for business, and the time to get in is now.
Full credit to the original publisher: Daily Nigerian – https://dailynigerian.com/no-better-time-to-choose-nigeria-than-now-tinubu-tells-foreign-investors/