By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships with key economic institutions to advance Nigeria’s economic diplomacy objectives.
The Minister made this known while receiving a delegation from Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Adeleye Falade, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Monday.
The meeting focused on the strategic role of NLNG in supporting Nigeria’s foreign policy goals through investment promotion, international partnerships, trade expansion, and the strengthening of the country’s global economic profile.
Speaking during the visit, Falade congratulated the Minister on her appointment and commended the Ministry’s efforts in advancing Nigeria’s interests globally. He described NLNG as an important ambassador of Nigeria’s economic potential, noting that the company operates in a highly competitive international market while maintaining global standards of excellence.
According to him, NLNG remains one of Africa’s most successful energy companies, contributing significantly to the Nigerian economy through taxes, dividends, levies, employment generation, and local content development.
Falade highlighted the company’s ongoing Train 7 expansion project, which is expected to increase NLNG’s production capacity from about 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 million tonnes upon completion. He said the project would boost government revenue, create jobs, and further strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global liquefied natural gas market.
He also reiterated the company’s commitment to sustainable economic growth, industrial development, and projecting a positive image of Nigeria through professionalism and adherence to international best practices.
In her response, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended NLNG for its outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic development and international reputation, describing the company as a strategic national asset.
She noted that NLNG’s achievements align with the Federal Government’s economic diplomacy agenda, particularly in the areas of energy security, investment promotion, trade expansion, industrial growth, and sustainable development.
The Minister welcomed deeper collaboration between the Ministry and NLNG to attract strategic investments and showcase opportunities within Nigeria’s energy sector, expressing confidence that the successful completion of the Train 7 project would significantly support the country’s economic transformation efforts.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in support of Nigeria’s development priorities and enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in the global economy.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to advance partnerships that promote economic prosperity, attract investment, and reinforce Nigeria’s standing as a leading business destination in Africa.
