Rescue Liberia’s economy, Weah begs Buhari

Liberian President George Weah on Monday visited President
Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and appealed to
Nigeria to come to the rescue of his country’s economy.

He said though Liberians had voted for change by electing him
president, mere political change is meaningless without
development, growth and prosperity hence the need for Nigeria’s
help.

Weah also appealed to Nigerian banks, which he said dominated
Liberia, not to shut down businesses because of the country’s
(Liberia’s) current economic downtown.

He said it was his my intention, “with all due respect and
affection, to frequently seek Buhari’s wise counsel and advice as
he (Weah) embarked upon the arduous task of nation building,
reconstruction and transformation of Liberia.

Weah, who said Nigeria’s historical benevolence towards Lberia
could not be quantified, emphatically sought Buhari’s “urgent and
eritieal assistance.”

He said the falling prices of Liberia’two basic export
commodities, rubber and iron ore, diminished the country’s market,
foreign exchange earnings from the export of these and other
commodities were used mainly on the importation of food and other
commodities, causing massive trade deficits, an all-time high youth
unemployment and rising prices of basic commodities.

He said his delegation was on a mission of gratitude and respect
for the extraordinary and exceptional role Nigerians had played and
continued to play in maintaining peace and stability in the West
African sub-region, particularly, in Liberia.

He said though Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with
its most powerful army in the sub-region, it had never used its
wealth and military prowess to expand its territory, threaten its
neighbors or destabilize any sovereign nation in the region.

“Our people have voted for change, and for hope. And change is
finally here. But mere political change is meaningless without
development, prosperity, and growth Your Excellency, we need
Nigeria’s help to jump-start our economy. You played a major role
in bringing peace to Liberia you reformed our Army and today it is
performing it duties to the highest professional standards. As we
speak, they are serving in a peace-keeping mission in Mali You have
also built and expanded the capacities of Liberians in so many
ways. For example, during our recent observance of Armed Forces Day
in Liberia, we were informed that two of our military personnel
will soon be graduating as pilots from one of your esteemed
institutions.

“We would like to see a continuation and expansion of that
program, women. for both men and My administrations’ Pro-Poor
Development Agenda, is intended to tackle the many economic and
social problems that my Government has inherited, especially in
addressing the large fiscal and infrastructure deficits, the urgent
problem of youth unemployment, and reviving the education,
agriculture, mining and health sectors. Your sustained technical
assistance for capacity building in these sectors is most
welcome.

“For example, Nigerian teachers and medical volunteers to
Liberia, under the Technical Assistance Corps TAC) Agreement with
Liberia, have been very crucial in boosting capacity development in
Liberia, and it is my hope that this assistance can be considerably
increased to address with urgency our most pressing socio-economic
needs at this time.

“More specifically, under the Bilateral Teacher Exchange
program, we are seeking 6,000 plus teachers to make up for the
shortage of good teachers in our educational system. n agriculture,
we are seeking experts and extension workers to build capacity in
the sector, particularly with crops, (such as cassava, for
example,) which lend themselves readily to value- added
propositions and export earning potential,” he said.

Weah declared that Liberia was now open for business to the
Nigerian private sector, saying there was a need to address the
current volume of trade between Nigeria and Liberia “which is very
low and does not exceed million, by some estimates.

“Yet, the Liberian banking sector is dominated by Nigerian
banks, and I am made to understand that their head offices in
Nigeria may be considering reducing their support or even shutting
them down because of the recent downturn in our economy. If this is
true, l urge them not to do so, as l am optimistic that trade and
commerce will increase in the near future, There are also major
shortcomings in the electricity and power sectors, in road
construction, in housing, in mining, and in fisheries, to name a
few, that could be of serious interest to Nigerian investors,
either as individuals or companies, or through joint-ventures or
public-private partnerships.

“We invite all of you to come to Liberia and explore the many
new opportunities for investment that are bound to increase under
this new politieal dispensation I promise you that you will find a
government that is not enly business friendly, but ready to do
business.

Liberian President George Weah on Monday visited President
Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and appealed to
Nigeria to come to the rescue of his country’s economy.

He said though Liberians had voted for change by electing him
president, mere political change is meaningless without
development, growth and prosperity hence the need for Nigeria’s
help.

Weah also appealed to Nigerian banks, which he said dominated
Liberia, not to shut down businesses because of the country’s
(Liberia’s) current economic downtown.

He said it was his my intention, “with all due respect and
affection, to frequently seek Buhari’s wise counsel and advice as
he (Weah) embarked upon the arduous task of nation building,
reconstruction and transformation of Liberia.

Weah, who said Nigeria’s historical benevolence towards Lberia
could not be quantified, emphatically sought Buhari’s “urgent and
eritieal assistance.”

He said the falling prices of Liberia’two basic export
commodities, rubber and iron ore, diminished the country’s market,
foreign exchange earnings from the export of these and other
commodities were used mainly on the importation of food and other
commodities, causing massive trade deficits, an all-time high youth
unemployment and rising prices of basic commodities.

He said his delegation was on a mission of gratitude and respect
for the extraordinary and exceptional role Nigerians had played and
continued to play in maintaining peace and stability in the West
African sub-region, particularly, in Liberia.

He said though Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with
its most powerful army in the sub-region, it had never used its
wealth and military prowess to expand its territory, threaten its
neighbors or destabilize any sovereign nation in the region.

“Our people have voted for change, and for hope. And change is
finally here. But mere political change is meaningless without
development, prosperity, and growth Your Excellency, we need
Nigeria’s help to jump-start our economy. You played a major role
in bringing peace to Liberia you reformed our Army and today it is
performing it duties to the highest professional standards. As we
speak, they are serving in a peace-keeping mission in Mali You have
also built and expanded the capacities of Liberians in so many
ways. For example, during our recent observance of Armed Forces Day
in Liberia, we were informed that two of our military personnel
will soon be graduating as pilots from one of your esteemed
institutions.

“We would like to see a continuation and expansion of that
program, women. for both men and My administrations’ Pro-Poor
Development Agenda, is intended to tackle the many economic and
social problems that my Government has inherited, especially in
addressing the large fiscal and infrastructure deficits, the urgent
problem of youth unemployment, and reviving the education,
agriculture, mining and health sectors. Your sustained technical
assistance for capacity building in these sectors is most
welcome.

“For example, Nigerian teachers and medical volunteers to
Liberia, under the Technical Assistance Corps TAC) Agreement with
Liberia, have been very crucial in boosting capacity development in
Liberia, and it is my hope that this assistance can be considerably
increased to address with urgency our most pressing socio-economic
needs at this time.

“More specifically, under the Bilateral Teacher Exchange
program, we are seeking 6,000 plus teachers to make up for the
shortage of good teachers in our educational system. n agriculture,
we are seeking experts and extension workers to build capacity in
the sector, particularly with crops, (such as cassava, for
example,) which lend themselves readily to value- added
propositions and export earning potential,” he said.

Weah declared that Liberia was now open for business to the
Nigerian private sector, saying there was a need to address the
current volume of trade between Nigeria and Liberia “which is very
low and does not exceed million, by some estimates.

“Yet, the Liberian banking sector is dominated by Nigerian
banks, and I am made to understand that their head offices in
Nigeria may be considering reducing their support or even shutting
them down because of the recent downturn in our economy. If this is
true, l urge them not to do so, as l am optimistic that trade and
commerce will increase in the near future, There are also major
shortcomings in the electricity and power sectors, in road
construction, in housing, in mining, and in fisheries, to name a
few, that could be of serious interest to Nigerian investors,
either as individuals or companies, or through joint-ventures or
public-private partnerships.

“We invite all of you to come to Liberia and explore the many
new opportunities for investment that are bound to increase under
this new politieal dispensation I promise you that you will find a
government that is not enly business friendly, but ready to do
business.