FG Sets up Investment C’ttee to Track Foreign Investors

Paul Obi

In a move to revamp its investment drive and ensure that prospective investors are given the requisite information and support investment in the country, the federal government yesterday set up a committee to track investment across the globe.

Under the auspices of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the standing committee will be mandated to follow-up on targeted investment from all regions of the world.

The Committee is a mechanism for processing the needs of investors at the pre-investment stage.

The Committee, which was constituted and inaugurated by NIPC Executive Secretary, Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan Baba, is in furtherance of the Commission’s targeted marketing strategy adopted to attract beneficial investments into the economy.

She explained that “the objective is to ensure that investors who have shown interest to invest in Nigeria are provided with adequate information and given handholding support to actualise their investment in the country.”

According to her: “The Committee is expected to follow-up on leads and interactions with investors during fora, for possible actualisation of their indication of interest to invest in the Nigerian economy.”

Hassan Baba stated that: “There is the need to provide constant communication and quality information to enable prospective investors make informed decisions.”

She observed that the work of the Committee is critical to the overall activities and mandate of the Commission as their functions will impact positively on the investment drive of the Organisation, describing the Committee as the “marketing organ of the Commission.”

The executive secretary also disclosed that members of the Standing Committee were deliberately selected from all the operational departments of the Commission in order to ensure holistic provision of post-promotion support to investors. She assured the Committee that all necessary support and logistics will be provided to enable them succeeds without further delay.

The NIPC chief executive further stated that the main focus of the Commission now is to identify and meet targeted investors who are committed and desirous to invest in the country as well as promoting priority Sectors, especially the non-oil sectors.

She also highlighted the need for NIPC Zonal Offices to be involved in the postpromotion drive as they are closer to the Sector Operators.

The Committee is chaired by the Legal Adviser of the Commission, Mrs. Patience Okala.