Speaking at a high-level EU-Africa dialogue in the United Kingdom, Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, presented Nigeria as a recalibrated and strategic investment destination, asserting that the nation’s era of profound economic reform is yielding tangible results.
Addressing an audience of scholars, diplomats, and private investors at Oxford University, Senator Musa made a compelling case for a fundamental shift in how global partners engage with Africa’s largest economy. He urged a move away from aid and towards equity, and from external prescriptions to bankable local partnerships.
“Africa constitutes 17 percent of the world’s population but receives less than 6 percent of global capital inflows. That must change,” Musa stated, positioning Nigeria as the prime catalyst for this rebalancing. He identified agriculture, solid minerals, and infrastructure as “gold mines waiting for smart partnerships,” highlighting that over 60% of Nigeria’s arable land remains untapped.
Directly addressing investor concerns, the Senator provided a confident assessment of the nation’s economic trajectory. “Every reform comes with pain, but we are turning the corner,” he asserted, pointing to easing inflation, a stabilising currency, and the launch of massive infrastructure projects as evidence of restored confidence.
Furthermore, Senator Musa provided crucial clarity on Nigeria’s borrowing strategy, framing it as a matter of disciplined fiscal planning, not arbitrariness. “Nothing is arbitrary. Borrowings are properly planned, debated, and monitored within the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework,” he explained, assuring the audience of the Senate’s role in enforcing transparency and fiscal responsibility.
The overarching message was one of a matured partnership proposition: Nigeria is not merely seeking capital, but offering strategic, high-yield opportunities in a market that has consciously implemented the difficult reforms required for sustainable growth.
