The Federal Government has pledged to strengthen the protection of Nigerian-owned investments in Angola and improve support for Nigerians living and doing business in the southern African country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during an inspection of the Cidade De Motores (City of Engines) auto spare-parts market in Golf 2, Luanda, established by Nigerian auto-parts dealers.
The minister, who visited the facility on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, expressed satisfaction with the scale of investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs, describing the project as evidence of the resourcefulness and pioneering spirit of Nigerians abroad.
“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground. We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some phony stories would be told about their investment,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She said the protection of Nigerian businesses in Angola would be given greater attention during future bilateral engagements, particularly at the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission.
According to her, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, assuring the traders that the government was taking steps to address challenges affecting Nigerian businesses and citizens outside the country.
The minister, however, urged Nigerian traders to comply strictly with Angolan laws and conduct their businesses responsibly to protect the country’s image.
She also cautioned against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market, insisting that the facility should remain open and inclusive. “There should be no room for tribalism,” she said.
Earlier, President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Chuks Ukachi, thanked the minister for visiting the market and explained that the facility was established after Angolan authorities stopped Nigerian traders from conducting business along the roadside.
He said the restriction left many Nigerian traders without a means of livelihood for almost two years, prompting the association to establish a formal market where they could operate legally.
Ukachi said the facility was open to both Nigerians and Angolans, stressing that the investment was designed not only to create sustainable business opportunities but also to project a positive image of Nigeria in Angola. “This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” he said.
The association appealed to the Federal Government to assist with securing the market and protecting the substantial investments made by Nigerian entrepreneurs in Angola.
The development underscores the growing role of Nigerian entrepreneurs in Africa’s commercial landscape and the need for stronger diplomatic and institutional mechanisms to safeguard their investments and promote legitimate cross-border trade.
