Paul Arkwright, British High Commissioner in Nigeria, at the weekend in Lagos said that Dangote Industries Limited’s multi-billion dollar petrochemical project has rekindled his country’s optimism that the Nigerian economy offers enormous opportunities to foreign investors.

Arkwright who was on a fact finding tour of ongoing construction projects at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, site of Dangote Petrochemical Complex said that when concluded, the complex will be of immense benefits to both Nigeria and Britain. He led a delegation, which includes John Howell, British Trade Envoy to Nigeria, and Ahmed Bashir, acting Deputy High Commissioner.

Projects at the complex include: the refinery, petro-chemical plant, pipeline gas producing plant and fertilizer plant. The diplomat who was obviously awed by the size and complexity of the project described it as an extremely important and enormous investment that has the capacity to transform the Nigerian economy. He also assured of the commitment of the British Government to increasing trade and doing better business with Nigeria.

Earlier in presentation, DVG Edwin, group executive director, Special Projects, Dangote Group, stated that the complex when completed will create market for $11 billion of Nigerian crude per annum and will save the nation over $7.5 billion per annum in terms of import substitution. He explained that the solid waste generated while construction is going on will be segregated and deposed off to cement kilns as feed leading to a cleaner and green environment. The Dangote Petrochemical Complex, according to him, is showcasing to global investors that Nigerian economy despite the all challenges is still an investment destination and very safe for investments.

It would be recalled that Yemi Osinbajo, vice president and Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State governor, on a recent visit to the site of the petrochemical complex expressed similar optimism that the project has the capacity of transforming Nigeria’s ailing economy.