FG assures world leaders on security for WEF meeting

Federal Government has reassured the international community of the safety of all participants during the World Economic Forum (WEF)Africa meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja next month.

The Supervising Minister of National Planning, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, who made this known in Abuja, also thanked the international community for their confidence in the country and its economy.
He further assured that the government was doing its best to protect its citizens as well as foreigners.
He said the security sub-committee of the local organising committee (LOC) of the meeting was being given all the necessary attention, saying Nigeria placed high premium on the security of lives and property of its citizenry.

“The security sub-committee of the LOC is headed by the inspector-general of police himself. That goes to show the importance we attached to the safety of the delegates coming.
“It is also our responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians before, during and after the event,” he said.
He informed that President Goodluck Jonathan had given all the necessary support for the successful hosting of the event.
He also disclosed that he had met with the inspector-general of police this week where the police chief confirmed that all security arrangements were already in place.

“Nigeria is guaranteeing the security of all the delegates and we shall do our best as a nation to ensure that the event holds without hitches. It is our responsibility to protect the lives of all the delegates coming. Mr President is on top of the situation and has given all the support needed to ensure the success of the event.
“Don’t forget that recently, Mr President hosted a seminar on security which was attended by many African heads of state and other international leaders. That underscores the importance Mr President attaches to security.”
He stressed that Nigeria stood to benefit economically from hosting the event.
“How do we create a conducive environment for the private sector to develop? How do we attract more foreign direct investment?

How do we maintain and sustain the economic progress Nigeria is making?; these are all our interests which coincide with the aspirations of the world economic forum.
“It is instructive that the that the theme of the forum is on increasing growth and job creation. This is totally in line with what we are trying to do. It is in line with what Mr President is trying to do on how to make our growth inclusive.”
He commended the WEF for issuing a statement to indicate that despite Nigeria’s security challenges, it was going ahead with the event because of their confidence in our system.

“We are hoping that this will be the best World Economic Forum Africa ever had.”