As Iranian investors storm Nigeria
Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government would work to ameliorate the challenges facing the Nigerian economy within a short period by under-studying the experiences of countries like Iran which thrived in adversity.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

He Buhari spoke during a meeting with a Special Envoy from the President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif, at the State House.

Buhari said the Iranian economy remained an inspiration for Nigeria in the deployment of technology to harness and export gas, grow food for the populace and promote entrepreneurship in education.

He said: “The progress made by Iran within a short period of 30 years is really commendable. Within the period, you have been able to harness gas flaring, and you are now exporting. You have recorded strides in security, manufacturing, agriculture and technology.

“You have also achieved a lot in nuclear research. I must also congratulate you for successfully negotiating with America and the European countries on the development of your nuclear energy.”

The president noted that Nigeria had all the potentials for growing into a great economy through more inclusive planning, consistency in government policies and commitment to the realization of development targets.

“In Nigeria, we are learning. We are learning the hard way through hardship, and we are learning very quickly on how to explore other sectors of the economy like gas, solid minerals and agriculture for growth.

“We are grateful for your support and cooperation in opening up the Nigerian economy for diversification,’’ Buhari told the envoy.
Not less than seventy Iranian investors and businessmen are presently in Nigeria scouting for potential areas to‎ put their resources into.

The investors are already holding discussions with a view to investing in sectors like banking, education, scholarship, agriculture, energy, tourism and technology development.
Zrif, also the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who disclosed these, said the Iranian government would support the ongoing restructuring of the Nigerian economy.

He said: “We are very keen to see a better and stronger relationship with Nigeria, which is the largest country in Africa and a major global player.”

Zarif said he came into Nigeria with a delegation of more than 70 members of the Iranian business community who had already started discussions on investing in sectors like banking, education, scholarship, agriculture, energy, tourism and technology development.

“In Nigeria, we are learning. We are learning the hard way through hardship, and we are learning very quickly on how to explore other sectors of the economy like gas, solid minerals and agriculture for growth.

Jirate:



Only Buhari appears not to be Learning……….despite all the Information at his Disposal. He keeps reading but doesn’t Understand any Thing.

estyvino:
You no see better country go na people wey we better pass.

I just returned from Iran, nothing dey there! Weyting dey there na bomb factory and musque!

Luckymay:
My Dear country is now being compared to Iran the war zone. I don't trust those Arabic guys. They may have come to tutor boko boys on how to operate in the guise that they are looking for where to invest. The way Nigerian movies portray every village old woman as a witch is the way Hollywood movies portray any Arabs as a potential terrorist and it can only mean one thing 'they cannot be trusted" not when we have someone like mr buhari as president.

Standing5:
What do we have in common with Iran? This Islamist is always trying to give his revival agenda of the economy an Islamic face even when not merited. What's in diversification. We can even diversify our oil sector by refining most of our crude locally. Does Iran posses the kind of Land Nigeria posses. Does Iran face the kind of structural and systemic challenges we face? Why attempt to draw a parallel with a nation that rewards productivity, that has water, power, real industries and roads?
You are barely succeding yet you are being carried away.

koboko69:

[s] Ok

You have made your sensless point...

I have given u ur first LIKE. Hope u are OK now?


Now walk out of the thread and shut the door behind you.[/s]

Luckymay:
My Dear country is now being compared to Iran the war zone. I don't trust those Arabic guys. They may have come to tutor boko boys on how to operate in the guise that they are looking for where to invest. The way Nigerian movies portray every village old woman as a witch is the way Hollywood movies portray any Arabs as a potential terrorist and it can only mean one thing 'they cannot be trusted" not when we have someone like mr buhari as president.

omenka:
You people should learn to find out a little about a subject before diving into it. You both sound like very little kids. Shiit like this is beyond you.

Go enlighten yourself a little about the worst regimes of US and EU sanctions since World War II and read about the countries that best weathered the storm- just go do a little research about the Iranian economy and come back and type something useful.

Una go just carry religious bigotry for head like something else.

If our governments had done 1/10th of what Iranians did under US, EU and UN sanctions, we wouldn't have been in the mess we are today. If Nigeria is put under 1/100th of the sanctions Iran was put under until just about a year ago when they were lifted, she would cease to exist in just months!

How could someone in their right senses call Iran a "war zone" that Nigeria should compare herself with?? Between Nigeria and Iran which country is more peaceful?? Which is more scientifically advanced?? Which is stronger a global power?? Which is more advanced technologically?? Who's people are more educated?? Na wa Oo!!

Make una try sabi book abeg- no be crime.

seunmsg:



Which war are they fighting in Iran? Seriously, why are you people so pathetically ignorant?

Iran was once an oil dependent country like Nigeria but they had to diversify their economy when the US and EU slammed various sanctions on them. They couldn't sell their oil as they used to but still, they found a way to survive despite the sanctions.

How they were able to quickly diversify away from oil revenue and sustained their economy during the period of the sanctions is what Buhari said Nigeria is willing to learn from. So, what's bad in that?

omenka:
You people should learn to find out a little about a subject before diving into it. You both sound like very little kids. Shiit like this is beyond you.

Go enlighten yourself a little about the worst regimes of US and EU sanctions since World War II and read about the countries that best weathered the storm- just go do a little research about the Iranian economy and come back and type something useful.

Una go just carry religious bigotry for head like something else.

If our governments had done 1/10th of what Iranians did under US, EU and UN sanctions, we wouldn't have been in the mess we are today. If Nigeria is put under 1/100th of the sanctions Iran was put under until just about a year ago when they were lifted, she would cease to exist in just months!

How could someone in their right senses call Iran a "war zone" that Nigeria should compare herself with?? Between Nigeria and Iran which country is more peaceful?? Which is more scientifically advanced?? Which is stronger a global power?? Which is more advanced technologically?? Who's people are more educated?? Na wa Oo!!

Make una try sabi book abeg- no be crime.

Luckymay:

So are you saying Iran were never at war? And when next you try to correct someone, avoid insults. I bet you wouldn't want us to continue that Lane this morning so I'll let it pass.
Lastly I understand where the president is coming from but why Iran? He could have used some other countries.

omenka:
You people should learn to find out a little about a subject before diving into it. You both sound like very little kids. Shiit like this is beyond you.

Go enlighten yourself a little about the worst regimes of US and EU sanctions since World War II and read about the countries that best weathered the storm- just go do a little research about the Iranian economy and come back and type something useful.

Una go just carry religious bigotry for head like something else.

If our governments had done 1/10th of what Iranians did under US, EU and UN sanctions, we wouldn't have been in the mess we are today. If Nigeria is put under 1/100th of the sanctions Iran was put under until just about a year ago when they were lifted, she would cease to exist in just months!

How could someone in their right senses call Iran a "war zone" that Nigeria should compare herself with?? Between Nigeria and Iran which country is more peaceful?? Which is more scientifically advanced?? Which is stronger a global power?? Which is more advanced technologically?? Who's people are more educated?? Na wa Oo!!

Make una try sabi book abeg- no be crime.

seunmsg:


Nigeria once fought a brutal civil war, would it be right to describe Nigeria currently as a war zone?

Sorry about the insult, it is not intentional.

Suprnov3r:
Something tells me this PMB has gone out of favour with his US backers

Irans model cannot work here.

The country is an islamic regime where protest against the government can be brutal
The country has a unified heritage, one unique language (persia) and dominantly 1 sect of islam (shia)
They had to go back begging to be relieved of the sanctions,
They had backers(RUSSIA)
Lastly their president is not a dullard

Luckymay:
My Dear country is now being compared to Iran the war zone. I don't trust those Arabic guys. They may have come to tutor boko boys on how to operate in the guise that they are looking for where to invest. The way Nigerian movies portray every village old woman as a witch is the way Hollywood movies portray any Arabs as a potential terrorist and it can only mean one thing 'they cannot be trusted" not when we have someone like mr buhari as president.

hadukwu1007:

I swear i was taken aback..smone even called Iran an Arab country...It shows dey don't even knw any tin abt dt country...dey've bn under sanctions since 1979 after d revolution but dz guys still manage to swim against d tide...til today, d tin still dey surpryz me...dey r yrs ahead of d Arabs in all ramifications.

Onyocha:


you are mistaking Iran for Iraq. Iran is very peaceful. when last did you hear of an explosion in Iran.

You call Iran an Arab country. it is majority Persian with many non-Arabic ethnicity. the Arabic speaking community are a small minority in Iran.

you link Iran to boko. boko is Salafist Sunni. Iran is Shia. the two dont see eye to eye.

estyvino:
You no see better country go na people wey we better pass.

I just returned from Iran, nothing dey there! Weyting dey there na bomb factory and musque!

hajifaty:

Are you taking all these indomie kids serious? They don't know shiit about what is going on in their own country. Imagine these kids calling Iran an Arab country. Nigeria as a nation has a lot to learn from Iran. Don't mind all these half baked graduates and religion bigots in here.

omenka:
You people should learn to find out a little about a subject before diving into it. You both sound like very little kids. Shiit like this is beyond you.

Go enlighten yourself a little about the worst regimes of US and EU sanctions since World War II and read about the countries that best weathered the storm- just go do a little research about the Iranian economy and come back and type something useful.

Una go just carry religious bigotry for head like something else.

If our governments had done 1/10th of what Iranians did under US, EU and UN sanctions, we wouldn't have been in the mess we are today. If Nigeria is put under 1/100th of the sanctions Iran was put under until just about a year ago when they were lifted, she would cease to exist in just months!

How could someone in their right senses call Iran a "war zone" that Nigeria should compare herself with?? Between Nigeria and Iran which country is more peaceful?? Which is more scientifically advanced?? Which is stronger a global power?? Which is more advanced technologically?? Who's people are more educated?? Na wa Oo!!

Make una try sabi book abeg- no be crime.

Jirate:



Only Buhari appears not to be Learning……….despite all the Information at his Disposal. He keeps reading but doesn’t Understand any Thing.