Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is expected to hold discussions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming weeks, focusing on Nigeria’s ongoing economic reform agenda.
The talks are anticipated to strengthen bilateral relations and explore opportunities for collaboration as Nigeria implements key measures aimed at stabilizing and revitalizing its economy.
The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has made this known.
Yesterday, President Tinubu expressed his willingness to work closely with Burnham, who assumed office on Monday.
The envoy, who visited the Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman, Zaach Adedeji at the Revenue House in Abuja, said the planned conversation between Burnham and Tinubu would focus on monetary, fiscal and tax policies by the Tinubu administration in the past three years.
Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser to Adedeji, said in a statement that Montgomery noted that the reforms were laying a solid foundation for Nigeria’s long-term economic growth.
Reflecting on his three years in Nigeria, the outgoing High Commissioner described the period as remarkable.
“To be in Nigeria over a three-year period where so much has happened for the good was awesome,” he said.
Montgomery acknowledged that policies such as exchange rate reforms and other economic measures brought short-term hardship to many Nigerians but insisted they were necessary to restore the economy.
“I know that a lot of the economic reforms are tough, and they can cause short-term pain for ordinary people—you know, devaluation, inflation, and so forth,” he said.
Montgomery noted that managing Nigeria’s public finances is particularly challenging because of the country’s complex fiscal structure and budget process.
“I know that Nigeria is complicated. I know that budget and fiscal management are always particularly difficult because of the way the budget works in the National Assembly,” he added.
The envoy praised the economic management team for the way it has handled Nigeria’s finances and pursued the reforms that have led to economic stability.
“I think what the finance ministers and you personally Adedeji) and your team at the NBS have done to try and put Nigeria on a better footing and also just manage the money better have been fantastic,” he said.
Montgomery also commended the technical expertise and political skill demonstrated by the reform team in implementing policies that many countries would find difficult to execute.
“I am full of admiration for not just the technical, but also the politically savvy way in which your team has worked,” he said.
Montgomery added that other initiatives, including changes in the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), efforts to attract more investment and improvements in Nigeria’s credit ratings, have strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
“I think what you and other key members in the economic management team have done is fundamental to the future of Nigeria. So, you have my real admiration,” he said.
The envoy, however, advised the government to focus on increasing its economic growth rate from about four per cent to seven per cent over the next four years to deliver greater benefits to ordinary citizens.
“ I have been quietly saying to a couple of senior people, the next four years need to be about getting the growth rate from four to seven per cent because that’s what will make a difference for ordinary people,” he said, adding that he believes Nigeria has the capacity to achieve the feat.
Montgomery described NBS as one of the United Kingdom’s strongest institutional partners and praised the collaboration between the agency and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), particularly in the area of peer review of operational processes.
NBS boss Adedeji thanked Montgomery for the personal and institutional support he provided throughout his diplomatic assignment.
“The way you’ve done this work actually changed the story, most especially your support, both personal as well as the technical assistance for our reforms,” Adedeji said.
We are ready to work with new PM
President Tinubu yesterday congratulated Burnham and expressed his willingness to work closely with him to advance economic and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Tinubu expressed this in his congratulatory message on Burnham’s assumption of office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The President’s congratulatory message and assurance were contained in a statement by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
Tinubu, according to the statement, also felicitated the Government and people of the U.K. for the peaceful, orderly and seamless leadership transition, which’’ once again reflects the strength of the country’s democratic institutions and constitutional tradition.’’
Besides, he recalled with fond memories his productive engagement with the immediate past Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his official visit to the U.K. in March and expressed confidence that Burnham would build on and consolidate the achievements recorded by that trip.
Tinubu said he had positive hope about Nigeria’s partnership, collaboration and cooperation with the U.K. under the new Prime Minister.
The statement by Ebienfa partly reads: “President Tinubu further expressed his desire to engage with Prime Minister Burnham at the earliest opportunity, bilaterally and multilaterally, especially under the auspices of the Commonwealth, to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen the strategic partnership between both countries for the benefit of their peoples.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria wishes Prime Minister Andy Burnham a successful tenure in office and assures him of Nigeria’s readiness to work closely with his administration in advancing shared priorities and addressing common global challenges.”
