SAN FRANCISCO, September 05, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has offered to assist Kenya in managing its newly-discovered oil resources.
Nigeria High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Akin Oyateru, disclosed this on Wednesday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan arrival in that country for a three day state visit.
Oyateru said Nigeria which has comparative advantage in the oil industry was ready to assist Kenya in several ways, including training and capacity building as well drafting of legislations.
“We will assist in exchanging ideas, collaborate and cooperate in the area of training and capacity building, while staying focused on the expansion of co-operations between the two countries,” Oyateru said, emphasizing that Nigeria will also tap from the broad knowledge of Kenya in the areas of horticulture, floriculture, dairy production, hospitality and tourism.
“In the area of hospitality and tourism, we can learn a lot from Kenya, as you know, Kenya is one of the preferred destinations for tourists,’’ he said.
He added that joint ventures from private investors from both countries in cement and sugar production is also being expected.
The High Commissioner said Nigeria is also looking at Kenya’s large deposit of limestone and production of sugarcane.
He also disclosed that two Nigerian banks, UBA and Ecobank, had already established in Kenya while GTB recently bought 70 per cent of Kenyan Fina Bank which is expected to take-off fully early next year.
Oyateru said Kenyan banks are also being encouraged “ to open in Nigeria so that there will be cross fertilisation in the area of banking and finance.”
According to him,“With that, we can build a lot of capital here in Africa, strengthen our stock exchanges so that when we need to raise fund or bond we do not have to go to foreign stock exchanges.
” If we do this in Africa, the money will remain in Africa.
” We can raise fund within the continent for big infrastructural projects like trans-Africa roads and rail, open more shipping lanes in order to bring the cost of business down.’’
The High Commissioner also disclosed that Nigeria and Kenya would enter a joint anti-narcotic campaign agreement as well as agreements on expansion of relations in the areas of immigration, trade and investments, mining, culture and tourism.
He stressed that there will also be an agreement on visa exemption for holders of official and diplomatic passports from both countries.
Kenyan Foreign Affairs Secretary, Amina Mohammed, had described President Jonathan’s State visit as “an incredibly significant visit for both countries’’.
She said the visit would help both countries to handle what she called “previous challenges of engagements.’’
