President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians and foreign investors that the Nigerian economy will remain stable despite the drop in global oil prices.
President Jonathan gave the assurance today when a delegation of multinational industrial giant, General Electric (GE), led by its Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. John Rice, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.
The President said that the federal government will do everything possible to maintain domestic economic stability, even as he called on the company to maintain its confidence in the country.
“We promise our people that even with the drop in oil prices, the economy will be stable.
“I urge you to maintain the confidence you have in this country before the oil price drop, and even expect better management from us.
“Sometimes, it is when you are challenged that you do better than when everything looks good.
“So, I assure you, other investors in this country and all Nigerians that the government will do everything necessary to stabilise the economy and that the drop in the price of crude oil will not create so much distortion in our economy.”
President Jonathan thanked GE for its commitment to increase its investment in Nigeria with the attendant benefit of job creation for many more Nigerians. He welcomed GE’s plans to set up a facility in Calabar to manufacture components for the oil and gas sectors.
Mr. Rice said that GE has committed about $30 million to the development of the Calabar Plant and is already undertaking the training abroad of some Nigerians who will work there.
He expressed his company’s appreciation of the support and encouragement being extended by the federal government to foreign investors and assured the President that fluctuations in global oil prices will not affect the commitment of GE to the country.
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