“I assure you that your investment is very safe and will continue to grow. We are working to improve the business environment for all investors,” Tinubu said when he received in audience the Founder and Global Chairman of BHARTI AIRTEL, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Africa Group Chief Executive, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, and their team at the State House, Abuja.
The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled, ‘At meeting with Airtel Founder, President Tinubu assures investors of better business environment.’
While receiving the Airtel delegation, Tinubu went down memory lane, recalling his historic connection with the telecommunication company when it started as Econet Wireless while he was the governor of Lagos State.
He revealed that he had facilitated and supported the entry of the company into Nigeria to liberalise the telecommunication industry saying, “I have a connection with Airtel. We brought Econet to Nigeria when I was governor of Lagos State. I was a main promoter then because we needed to liberalise the telecom industry.”
Tinubu praised the growth of the company and welcomed the offer of partnership to further deepen economic growth and eradicate poverty among Nigerians.
He reasoned that, “The economy of Asia headed by India is very phenomenal because of reforms,” adding, “We are ready to copy India.”
The President described the digital economy as “very crucial,” saying Nigeria is “not ashamed to copy any model that works.”
“I congratulate Airtel for the growth of your business in Nigeria. We are looking forward to the growth and expansion of your 5G network in Nigeria. Airtel should continue to promote Nigeria,” the President said.
In his presentation, the Global Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Mr. Mitall, congratulated President Tinubu and offered him the goodwill of his company and that of his country, India, noting that besides being a businessman and investor in Nigeria he is a member of Business Advisory Council of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mitall praised the president for the key decisions he has taken within only three weeks in office, which, he said, has put Nigeria back on the global business reckoning.
“I came here to make a request, but I have to say thank you first. We are grateful for what you have done with the removal of fuel subsidy and fixing the foreign exchange.
“This will open a floodgate of foreign investments. You have taken these bold steps. It is important to stand firm. Airtel is a robust telecom company and we are ready to serve Nigeria,’’ Mitall added.
Meanwhile, Africa Group Chief Executive of Airtel, Mr Ogunsanya, entreated the President to prioritise the challenge of vandalism of telecom infrastructure as a matter of national security.
He said “It is in our interest to provide better service but we are always faced with the destruction of our infrastructure, especially our fibre optic cables.
“Telecom infrastructure should be taken as critical national assets that must be protected.
“We believe in digital transformation of Nigeria. I am committed to this country because I am a Nigerian and this market is the biggest under my portfolio. We can take millions of our people out of poverty with digital transformation of our economy.”
