FG to settle conflicting interest between negotiation office, trade department

The federal government has assured to look into the conflict of roles by the newly created Nigeria Trade Negotiation Office and the Trade Department of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, said this during a visit to his office by the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) on Friday where he assured he would reposition the ministry, especially the Trade Mark Registration Department, and every other area that often elicit concerns of Nigerians.

He has expressed his readiness to engage the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the best possible way that will ensure seamless release of  every available funds meant for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in the country.

He said “For funds for MSMEs, I intend to have regular meetings with the Central Bank of Nigeria because both of us are key to the Nigerian economy.”

While expressing delight over the visit of CICAN, the minister pledged to reposition the Ministry, especially the Trade Mark Registration department, and every other area that often elicit concerns of Nigerians.

On her part, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum, called on CICAN members to see themselves as partners with the ministry’s towards repositioning the nation’s economy for better performance.

Katagum, who was before her appointment, the Nigeria’s Ambassador to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), pledged to leverage on her contacts to ensure that CICAN members as well as other interested journalists benefit from media capacity building programmes.

Earlier, the Chairman of CICAN, Mr Fred Idehai, congratulated the two ministers for their appointment and pledged the association’s readiness to support the policies and programmes of the ministry through in-depth and balanced reportage.

Idehai, however, appealed to the ministers to bring back to life the annual media conference which brings together the ministry’s head of agencies, directors as well journalists covering the beat, in order to equip reporters with relevant and up to date knowledge of all activities in the ministry.

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