Don’t enable our nation to die, Nigerian governor begs Nigerians in U.S

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has appealed to Nigerians within the diaspora to proceed to assist their homeland regardless of safety challenges.

“Don’t enable your nation to die,” Mr Diri stated to his viewers.

Mr Diri, who made the enchantment at a dinner in his honour, organised by the Consulate Basic of Nigeria in New York at Nigeria Home on Wednesday evening, stated the insecurity within the nation had been exaggerated.

The governor stated Nigeria would develop from energy to energy if its residents, at dwelling and overseas, would do their half by contributing to its growth.

He, nonetheless, acknowledged that Nigeria had been going by some political and safety challenges. Some states within the nation had been nonetheless protected, he stated.

“Bayelsa is among the most secure states in Nigeria and that’s the reason we’re right here in the united statesto appeal to overseas investments and to showcase our wealthy cultural heritage.

“As you recognize, Bayelsa has been referred to as a state of oil and gasoline; because the world is shifting to cleaner power, the state can be positioned for range as a result of it has extra gasoline than oil.

“We now have ample gasoline assets. In reality, we’ve extra gasoline reserves than crude oil. So, funding alternatives abound within the state,” the governor stated.

Past oil and gasoline, Mr Diri stated the federal government had mobilised its residents to enter farming, saying that rice may be planted within the state 3 times in a yr.

He stated the federal government had mobilised the folks to enter agriculture as a approach of shifting from oil to the non-oil sector. He known as on Nigerians within the diaspora to return and put money into the state.

Lot Egopija, the consul-general of Nigeria in New York, stated the state is endowed with monumental pure assets, urging the governor to make use of his go to to discover funding alternatives in varied sectors.

‘Nigeria second-largest U.S export vacation spot in Sub-Saharan Africa’

Mr Egopija stated the consulate would proceed to function the springboard for commerce missions to and from Nigeria and liaise with people, company our bodies and organisations looking for to put money into Nigeria.

“Nigeria is the second-largest U.S export vacation spot in Sub-Saharan Africa. The united statesand Nigeria have a bilateral business funding dialogue and Nigeria is eligible for preferential commerce advantages underneath the African Development and Alternative Act.

“Equally, the commerce in items between the 2 international locations totals over 10 billion {dollars} yearly. With these indices, the potential for continued Nigeria-United States financial partnership is big.

“The Nigerian Missions in the united statesare dedicated to constructing lasting partnerships that will stimulate, maintain and deepen Nigerian-American relations,” he stated.

Additionally talking, the Nigeria Everlasting Consultant to the UN, Tijjani Bande, appreciated the governor for the initiative of embarking on a cultural and commerce mission to the U.S.

The President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), New York chapter, Bobby Digi, in his goodwill message, thanked the management of the consulate for offering the platform to collaborate.

The dinner was attended by some leaders of Nigerian associations within the U.S. and associates of Nigerians, together with Yinka Dansalami, chairman, Board of the Organisation for the Development of Nigerians, and Bolade Sobola, president of UN Workers Recreation Membership Nigeria, amongst others.

(NAN)