Address by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation

Delivered at the Nigerian–Saudi Investment and Tourism Exhibition 2026

Thank you very much.

Your Excellency, the representative of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; the representative of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State; the Honourable Commissioner of Commerce here present; and my dear sister, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM.

Sometimes, I wonder where she gets all this energy. Those who have followed her remarkable journey—from her days at the Nigerian Television Authority to serving as a member of the National Assembly, and now leading NiDCOM—would agree that she has become synonymous with Nigerians in the diaspora.

Before I came to the podium, I asked her when her second term would end. She told me that she had less than a year remaining and could not wait to leave. However, we are not sure we are ready to let her go, because her name has become inseparable from the affairs of Nigerians in the diaspora.

Thank you for the excellent work you have done. She has a special way of drawing people to events. Only two days ago, she told me that I had to attend this event. I tried to excuse myself because of several competing engagements, but she insisted that I must be here. So, my dear sister, I am here. Thank you for the invitation.

I also acknowledge Dr. Mansur Muhtar, whom I have not seen for a long time; distinguished members of the National Assembly; Your Excellencies; our royal fathers; ambassadors; senior government officials; partners; and all other distinguished guests.

I had also hoped to meet my friend and brother, His Excellency Ambassador Faisal bin Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, who keeps me regularly informed about important developments. He is also my neighbour.

I wish to recognise and particularly commend the tremendous work he is doing to promote cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Although he has not been in Nigeria for very long, he has already accomplished so much that one would think he had been here for many years.

I also acknowledge the representatives of Al Yaro International. Thank you for what you are doing, for representing Nigeria positively wherever you go, and especially for contributing to the relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

As the Chairman of NiDCOM has rightly said, the relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia is not limited to reports of Nigerians travelling to Saudi Arabia and getting arrested. There is a broad community of Nigerian professionals and businesspeople in the Kingdom who are making significant contributions to the cultural, religious, and commercial relationship between our two countries.

Thank you for your efforts. We hope that you will continue to advance Nigeria’s interests while strengthening our cooperation with the Saudi authorities.

It is my pleasure to join you at the second Nigerian–Saudi Investment and Tourism Exhibition. I commend the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM; Al Yaro International Limited; Al-Manafiea Mutual Benefits Company; and all the partners whose efforts have made this important event possible.

This exhibition comes at a time when Nigeria is deepening its economic engagement with the world and creating new opportunities for trade, investment, and tourism. It also highlights the growing role of Nigerians in the diaspora as ambassadors of our country and partners in national development.

Across the world, Nigerians are making remarkable contributions in business, healthcare, technology, education, and public service. Their achievements continue to strengthen Nigeria’s global reputation and open new doors for economic cooperation.

Relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have continued to expand in recent years. Beyond our long-standing religious and cultural ties, both countries are strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, mining, aviation, tourism, and several other sectors.

Earlier this year, Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation with Saudi Arabia across key sectors, while both countries continued to explore new opportunities for economic partnership.

I must again commend the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria for reviving and expanding scholarship opportunities between our two countries within the few months he has been here. He recently informed us that the Saudi authorities were prepared to award fully funded scholarships, particularly in mining and petroleum-related fields, to qualified Nigerian postgraduate students.

During a courtesy visit to my office, he also informed me of plans to establish a direct air connection between Saudi Arabia and Abuja. We understand that this development will take place very soon.

I therefore thank the Ambassador, in absentia, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their efforts to deepen cooperation between our countries.

The theme of this exhibition, “The Misconceptions, Challenges, and Opportunities of Investing in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria Today,” is both relevant and timely.

Every investment destination has its challenges, but successful investors look beyond perceptions and misconceptions to identify genuine opportunities. This is precisely why platforms such as this exhibition are so valuable. They bring governments, businesses, and investors together to exchange accurate information, build confidence, and establish partnerships capable of delivering tangible results.

Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is implementing bold economic reforms designed to restore macroeconomic stability, improve the investment climate, and unlock long-term growth. These reforms are already strengthening investor confidence, increasing capital inflows, and expanding opportunities across critical sectors of our economy.

Some people claim that investors are leaving Nigeria because of what they describe as an unfavourable investment environment. However, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is changing that perception. More investors are coming into Nigeria, as demonstrated by the activities taking place here today and by major international investment commitments.

One notable example is the investment being made by the United States Government in Nigeria’s healthcare sector—an investment valued at approximately five billion dollars and described as one of the largest healthcare investments of its kind anywhere in the world.

For the first time in more than 30 years, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have exceeded the 50-billion-dollar mark. In the final quarter of last year, the Financial Action Task Force removed Nigeria from its grey list, improving the country’s ability to conduct business with the international community.

International rating agencies are also upgrading Nigeria’s outlook, indicating that the country is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for trade and investment. Our Gross Domestic Product is rising, while food inflation and headline inflation are declining.

These are not merely figures; they reflect real developments taking place in our economy. I therefore urge all Nigerians to continue supporting this administration as it works to lead our country towards the prosperity we all desire.

The administration has also placed considerable emphasis on infrastructure development. This can be seen in the four major road infrastructure projects initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These projects are connecting cities and opening the country’s major economic corridors, enabling our farmers, technicians, entrepreneurs, and investors to realise their full potential.

For the first time, Nigeria has also established a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development. The livestock industry is potentially worth several trillion naira. Unlocking the sector will create employment opportunities and generate greater economic prosperity for millions of Nigerians.

These interventions complement the government’s investments in agriculture and its broader efforts to unlock opportunities across every sector of the economy.

Through the Ministry of Regional Development, the President is also strengthening regional development institutions. In addition to the North-East Development Commission and the Niger Delta Development Commission, other regional development commissions have been established to integrate every part of the country into the centre of economic activity. These institutions will enable the various regions to harness their resources and realise their potential for the benefit of Nigeria as a whole.

Agriculture remains another major priority. The Federal Government is supporting farmers by improving access to finance, mechanisation, irrigation, and agricultural extension services, while also promoting agro-processing and value addition.

In this regard, I wish to commend the work being undertaken by Al Yaro International to promote agriculture, particularly in some of the North-Central states. I watched some of the video clips showing these activities before I came to the podium. Please continue this important work for the benefit of our country.

This administration is equally investing in human-capital development through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. As of today, more than 1.5 million Nigerian students who might otherwise have been unable to attend school are receiving the support they need to continue their education.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised that no young Nigerian who possesses the necessary qualifications and desires to pursue an education should be denied that opportunity simply because their parents or guardians cannot afford the tuition fees and associated living expenses.

Through this flagship policy, approximately 1.5 million Nigerians are now able to remain in school. The President will continue to deepen and expand the initiative because he understands that Nigeria can achieve lasting prosperity only by educating its young men and women. Education will also contribute significantly to addressing insecurity, one of the principal challenges confronting our country.

Security remains fundamental to sustainable investment. The Federal Government continues to strengthen the capacity of our Armed Forces and security agencies, improve intelligence gathering, enhance inter-agency cooperation, and develop stronger international partnerships.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s divisions from eight to twelve. This forms part of the administration’s efforts to bring security closer to the Nigerian people and improve protection throughout the country.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, is undertaking an ambitious economic transformation through Vision 2030. The Kingdom is diversifying its economy beyond oil and investing heavily in tourism, technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure.

Nigeria will continue to cooperate with the international community, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to promote development and help build a safer and more prosperous world for everyone.

I wish to acknowledge particularly the role of the Nigerian diaspora in Saudi Arabia. As I stated earlier, you are not only contributing to the economy of your host country; you are also serving as bridges between our two nations.

Through your businesses, professional expertise, and networks, you are helping to attract investment, facilitate trade, and strengthen people-to-people relations—an essential element of international cooperation.

As the Federal Minister of Information and National Orientation, I recognise that investment also depends on confidence. Our responsibility is therefore to continue presenting an accurate and balanced narrative about Nigeria—one that honestly acknowledges our challenges while showcasing our enormous opportunities, resilience, achievements, and continuing progress.

Investment thrives where reliable information is available, transparency is upheld, and there is trust in public communication. These are the principles that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation continues to promote.

I encourage all participants in this exhibition to establish practical partnerships that will outlive today’s discussions. Let us move beyond conversations and proceed towards concrete investments, joint ventures, technology transfer, tourism exchanges, job creation, business growth, and initiatives that improve the lives of our people.

I thank the investors, organisers, and partners behind this exhibition. I particularly thank my sister, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, for building partnerships and ensuring that Nigerians who have something valuable to offer—wherever they may be in the world—are given the opportunity to contribute to the development of Nigeria and to the peace and prosperity of the wider world.

As my sister indicated earlier, I will not say much more. This is my third engagement today, and I still have two more to attend.

Thank you very much for listening. Thank you for inviting me, and I am honoured to be here.