FCT Minister solicits investments in waste management, Abuja rail

Bello made the call when he received a delegation of non-career Nigeria Ambassadors-designate who visited him in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), provides one of the best economic opportunities for big businesses and the waste management sub-sector has enormous potential to be harnessed.

The minister advised the ambassadors-designate to always promote and project the various investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially the huge business prospects in waste management in the FCT, to their host countries.

Bello said the presence of good infrastructure as well as the relative peace and security in the territory combined with its massive population, will surely make Abuja a preferred destination for investors to do business and reap huge benefits.

“One area that we want you to consider as you discuss Abuja with your host nations is the waste management.

“For those of you that are in Europe, we understand there is a lot of funding for green projects of such nature; these are areas that we are very much interested in.

“Apart from its huge population and location advantages, the territory is well connected to Europe, West, East and South African countries through a number of air carriers that fly in and out of Abuja daily”, he said.

The minister said although Lots 3 and 1A of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit were well funded by the Chinese EXIM Bank, opportunities still existed in the Lots 2, 4, 5and 6 of the ongoing rail system projects.

“We have what we call the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System which is under construction on the basis of six Lots.

“Already, Lots 1A and 3 are being funded by the Chinese EXIM Bank and hopefully that would be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

“But there is opportunity for investment in Lots 2, 4, 5 and 6. So, these are some of the areas that when you get fully settled, we may be able to communicate with you on some of these issues”, he said.

Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, leader of the delegation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the visit was to introduce the ambassadors-designate to the minister.

He said the visit was also to find out some of the economic and investment potential and opportunities in the FCT.

Enikanolaiye said FCT Administration could furnish the new envoys with necessary information on government’s priority projects, particularly those in the FCT, to enable them to promote such projects. (NAN)