Envoy seeks end to trade deficit with Russia


TO attract foreign investment, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, has charged Nigerian missions abroad to ensure that the issuance of visas does not last for more than 48 hours.


The minister noted at the signing of "Performance Contract" with Heads of Nigerian Missions in the United States (U.S.) at the Nigeria House in New York, that the era of visa delays to investors and visitors, among others, to Nigeria was over.


Besides, Assam Assam, Nigeria's Ambassador to Russia, says the Nigerian mission is worried about the lopsided trade relations with Russia.


A diplomatic source yesterday quoted Ashiru as saying: "All heads of Nigerian Missions abroad would be required to enter into this contract with me so that Nigerians in Diaspora can be better assured of improved service delivery in a manner that justifies the huge investment in the operations of Nigerian missions abroad."


Ashiru added: "Heads of missions are to hold their individual officers accountable for the delivery of agreed outcome such as the number and timeliness of visas and passports issued, the periodicity and quality of reports that are rendered, among other deliverables."


The minister stressed that the contract would be tied to the performance of officers and that this would come into reckoning during appointments and promotions in the future.


"I need not stress the imperative need for heads of missions and their officers to continually justify the trust reposed in them by Mr. President on behalf of the Nigerian people."


Ashiru warned that any officer who is either unable or unwilling to live up to the highest standard of professionalism and efficient service delivery, would find it difficult to operate in the new environment that the ministry sought to create.


"For us in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is no longer the case to argue that our output is intangible and therefore hardly susceptible to performance evaluation.


"To change this paradigm, it has been my determination to deploy foreign policy as an instrument of economic development in a manner that facilitates job creation and wealth for the Nigerian people," he said.


Ashiru noted that the ministry's Key Performance Indicators (KPI) had been developed in the template produced by the National Planning Commission.


He listed the indicators to include protecting the interest of Nigerians abroad, promoting Nigeria's economic interest abroad, and improving the profile and image of Nigeria abroad.


Other key indicators listed by Ashiru are enhancing Nigeria's leadership role in Africa starting with the West Africa sub-region, promoting global peace and security and promoting a just world economic order.


He pointed out that these objectives had been further broken down into specifics of deliverable and outcomes in a manner that would hold every mission accountable.


The source said that Nigeria's Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Ade Adefuye and Consul-General in Atlanta, Amb. Geoffrey Teneilabe, signed the contract.


Others present at the event were Nigeria's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb. Usman Sarki and Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mr. Habib Habu.


Assam, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, noted that economic relations between Nigeria and Russia favoured the Russians.


He said the Nigerian mission had started moves to address the trade imbalance and was wooing Russian Chambers of Commerce with investment opportunities in the oil and gas industry within the Niger Delta.


"The trade with Russia is totally lopsided. In the current year, the Russians exported about $350 million (about N56 billion) worth of goods to Nigeria, and Nigeria exported nothing.


"That is precisely why I am working to ensure that the imbalance is corrected, I am meeting with the chambers of commerce of the Russian Federation and of Moscow.


"I am meeting with Russian banks and investment houses and I am also meeting with major players in the oil industry.


"In the hope that we will be able to attract some of them to come in to do direct foreign investment in Nigeria which, we think in the long run, will redress that lopsidedness."


Assam explained that the mission was working on developing markets for non-oil exports to boost trade with Russia. The envoy also commented on the development of abundant gas reserves in Akwa Ibom.


He said the country had an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gazprom, a Russian gas firm, which would be implemented.


Assam said that the MoU provides a framework for meaningful economic relations that would be mutually beneficial to both countries as well as strengthen bilateral relations between them.


According to the diplomat, the Russian expertise in gas will be deployed to develop the sector in Akwa Ibom and boost export to Russia.


He said that two Russian firms have already been invited to join in the oil and gas exploration activities in Akwa Ibom and would soon start operations.

Source: http://odili.net/news/source/2012/nov/13/17.html