Nigeria is now strategically positioned for global business expansion and long term investment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, Senator Sani Musa has assured international investors at the University of Oxford.
The Senator who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance spoke during the EU Africa Dialogue with the theme De risking and Driving Capital Financing Africa’s Investment Gap.
Addressing academics, policymakers and investors at the prestigious forum, Senator Musa said Nigeria’s ongoing economic stabilisation efforts and youthful population present one of the strongest investment opportunities in Africa. He said “We are the most populated nation on the continent with a productive youth population. What we need now is investment that matches this strength.”
He expressed concern over the low level of global funding coming into Africa despite the continent’s potential. Senator Musa stated that Africa accounts for 17 percent of the world’s population but receives less than 6 percent of global investments, stressing that this imbalance must be corrected. He also highlighted the untapped agricultural resources in Nigeria, noting that “Sixty percent of our land is arable. Agriculture is a goldmine waiting to be maximised.”
The Senator assured that although the economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu come with initial discomfort, they are already showing positive signs such as easing inflation, improvement in the foreign exchange market and major ongoing infrastructure projects. He said “Every reform comes with pain but the future looks bright.”
Speaking on borrowing and national debt concerns, Senator Musa explained that all approved loans were properly scrutinised under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and legally backed. According to him, the main challenge is not lack of capital but the failure to develop well structured bankable projects capable of attracting investment. He added that government agencies have now been mandated to report all loan funded projects to the National Assembly for proper oversight.
He also emphasised that while Nigeria supports global energy transition plans, development realities must be considered, saying the country cannot abandon its natural resources without viable alternatives. European diplomats and private sector participants at the dialogue also shared their commitment to strengthening partnerships and increasing investment support for African economies. The Senator called for collaboration between policymakers and investors to unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential.
