British Prime Minister, Theresa May has announced the availability of £750 million credit facility for Lagos to boost export financing and other activities in the state.
May made the announcement during a meeting with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. Also at the meeting was the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule and other members of the state executive council.
May who noted the commercial importance of Lagos, further emphasised that the sustainability and growth in Britain’s relationship with Lagos is pertinent for the state and her country.
The Ambode-led administration may want to rethink accessing the available credit facility, as Lagos currently has the highest foreign debt profile.
A recently released report on external debt stock by the Debt Management Office (DMO) titled, ‘States, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Federal Governments’ External Debt Stock as at June 30, 2018,’ shows out of $22.08 billion Nigeria’s external debt, Lagos state currently top other states in the federation with a foreign debt profile of $1.45 billion.
In as much as this is a welcome development for the state, it will further increase its external debt profile by $975.92 million.
May visited Nigeria as part of her first-time visit to three African countries since she resumed office. Other countries she was scheduled to visit were South Africa and Kenya.
In what was understood to be why May visited the continent, the Prime Minister during her speech while in South Africa highlighted the high level of poverty in Africa and Nigeria specifically.
May said, “Most of the world’s poorest people are Africans. And increasing wealth has brought rising inequality, both between and within nations. For example, much of Nigeria is thriving, with many individuals enjoying the fruits of a resurgent economy. Yet 87 million Nigerians live on less than $1.90 a day – making it home to more very poor people than any other nation in the world.”
