Posted by By Constance Ikokwu in Abuja on
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday said she is not about politics but poised to focus attention on her new role......
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday said she is not about politics but poised to focus attention on her new role.
Okonjo-Iweala who was recently moved to the foreign affairs ministry said:'I am focusing on my new brief and not interested in politics".
Speaking to THISDAY yesterday in Abuja, she also said foreign direct investment (FDI) into the non-oil sector of the country is expected to hit about $3 billion annually.
The former finance minister said she was focusing on her new brief as Minister of Foreign Affairs and was interested in delivering on the agenda set for her by the President.
She said: 'I've just got a new brief in this ministry and I am very much focusing on the work and on delivering on the agenda.
'I don't know anything about any political group and I feel we should be left alone to do our job. I want to make it clear that I am about focusing on my work as I have always been", she said.
On investments into the country, Okonjo-Iweala said the oil and gas sector is expected to yield even more with Korea's commitment to invest $6 billion in seven years while China will bring in between $4 - $5 billion.
According to her, $1 billion out of the FDI from the non-oil sector would go into telecommunications while the remaining will be channeled into other areas such as manufacturing, construction and real estate.
She said her ministry is more interested in the non-oil sector because it will create more jobs for the unemployed in the country.
Okonjo-Iweala said the country needs to move 'a little more aggressively" in order to double non-oil FDI within the next five to six years adding that Nigeria's size requires urgent measures to be taken in terms of maintaining relationships with our traditional partners as well as striking new deals with countries in the emerging markets.
The minister said Nigeria's FDI comes mainly from China, South Africa, Korea and India.
According to her, Nigeria already has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with these countries but stated that she hopes the relationship would grow adding 'these countries also see Nigeria as an emerging economy, the reason why we need to sharpen our foreign policy and use it as a tool for our economic development."
'When we see China, we should see a large market that could absorb a lot of our agricultural products. When we see India and others, we should see a partner who will work with us in developing our manufacturing sector as well as technology. So our foreign policy should drive us towards that. We want to sharpen our foreign policy and put more economics into it," she said.
According to the minister, this goal could be achieved by working closely with other organs of government including the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the Ministry of Commerce and the Nigeria Export Promotion Commission (NEPC).
She said her ministry aims to make Nigeria an outsourcing centre where people can also have call centres.
Okonjo-Iweala also stated that 'we should make a package pushing the same kind of policies that people can see. We should not be going around saying things and doing things in a discordant way. We need to articulate this very carefully and we need to be targeted. We really need to look at the markets that have potentials for our goods and if we do that, you will see that markets where you need to put in effort will not be many."
The minister told THISDAY that Nigeria's foreign policy will continue to be 'Africa centred" in terms of working for peace, integration and co-operation on the continent.
She said Nigeria will focus on resolving conflicts on the continent because it is important for the country's development and pointing out that 'lack of peace in other countries surrounding us means lack of FDI."
'The countries around you matter when you want to attract FDI. If the countries around you are all fighting, nobody will come. It's called the neighbourhood effect. It even has a name in economics. All the energy that the President has put into resolving conflicts is because he recognises this fact, that we need good neigbourhood if we are to develop economically."
She observed that her ministry has a competent staff that has been working under difficult circumstances which include lack of steady power supply and no internet connectivity but these, according to her, are being addressed.
She said her ministry has met with the Managing Director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Engr. Joseph Makoju to discuss means of having additional power supply.
This meeting, she said was successful and the problem of connectivity will be solved within the next one month.