The Nigeria High Commissioner to Kenya, Akin Oyateru disclosed this Thursday at Nairobi that Nigeria Federal Government is ready to assist Kenya in their oil exploration ahead of the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mr. Oyateru said in his interview with News Agency of Nigeria that; “Kenya just discovered oil, so we have a lot of comparative advantages there, which we can actually impart in them. “We will assist in exchanging ideas, collaborate and cooperate in the area of training and capacity building. “We could also help them in the area of redrafting their legislation to have a proper legislation in that sector’’.
It was recently reported that Kenya as announced that her oil resources has met the threshold for commercial exploitation raising hope of that country joining the league of oil producing nations.
According to Oyateru, Nigeria will also be able to tap into the broad knowledge of Kenya in areas like horticulture, floriculture, dairy production, hospitality and tourism.
He said that he expects joint ventures from private investors in both countries in cement and sugarcane
He encourages banks in Kenya to open their branches in Nigeria just like two banks already in Nigeria have their branches in Kenya (UBA and ECOBANK) and GTB as bought 70 per cent of Kenyan Fina Bank. This is to build the capital in Africa and strengthen the stock exchanges.
“If we do this in Africa, the money will remain in Africa.”
Reports says that Jonathan’s visit will be the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to Kenya in 25 years.
The Kenyan Foreign Affairs secretary, Amina Mohammed said that, the visit will help both countries to handle “previous challenges of engagements’’.
