Britain still wants to invest in Nigeria inspite of the £3,000 visa row with Nigeria

In spite of the £3,000 visa row with Nigeria, the United Kingdom has said it would keep working to be part of Nigeria’s economic growth.

Speaking in Abuja at a reception for African Supplies Limited-a UK company – the Deputy High Commissioner of UK in Nigeria, Mr. Giles Lever disclosed that Nigeria export to the United Kingdom had risen above the six per cent. Lever said, “The trade volume between both countries is £4bn as at 2011. We are still expecting the recent figure because it takes a longer time before it comes. We saw significant increase in the UK import to Nigeria rising around 6 per cent per year.” He reiterated that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the leaders of both countries in 2011 was to further strengthen their bilateral ties.

Lever added, “The strength of our relationship is very high because we have historical, peoples to people relations with millions of Nigerians in UK contributing enormously to public growth of UK.

“But we would like to grow more in the construction sector because Nigeria’s construction sector worth around $40bn per year and the company we are hosting tonight has been in the Nigeria market for long time partnering with Nigeria companies and meeting the demand of Nigeria consumers for high quality building materials.”

Managing Director of ASL, Mr. Joe Collins, said the company’s business had grown rapidly since 2000 with partnerships across 21 sub-Saharan countries, and a turnover approaching $40m with the growth in excess of 20 per cent per annum.

He said, “Our focus remains on our existing product range and core markets within our client portfolio. The construction sector continues to grow and competition to supply is relentless.

Only by retaining strength in our products backed by strong branding,  and distribution channels strong local partnerships will we retain and increase our market shares.”