President Buhari should have sent Vice President Osinbajo to the G7 Summit in Cornwall with a set of proposals that look something like this

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Nigeria is willing to offer all G7 member states observer status at the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). This is to facilitate massive investment in West Africa with an annual minimum target of $500bn

[2] Nigeria is offering free land and five year tax holidays to the big automobile manufacturers like General Motors, Chrysler, Citroen, Toyota, Peugeot, Fiat, Nissan, Lexus and Ford. We want each of them to open assembly and manufacturing plants in Nigeria employing at least 5,000 local people each

[3] Any company from a G7 nation that invests in a manufacturing facility in Nigeria employing at least 1,000 people will get a one year tax holiday. In return, any state in Northern Nigeria where these investors build a manufacturing facility employing at least a thousand local people will be compelled by law to rescind its Sharia laws to accommodate their foreign workers

[4] Shipping industries from across the G7 are welcome to open at least one shipyard in the Niger Delta to manufacture vessels for global distribution. Nigeria will offer them a 99 year lease to do this

[5] On an annual basis, each G7 nation will take in 50,000 Nigerian graduates to train them up to international standards in manufacturing, management and commerce

[6] Power and steel companies will be given unprecedented sweeteners when then invest in Nigeria. If they invest over $10m and employ in excess of 1,000 Nigerians, they will be offered five year tax holidays, 99 year land leases, diplomatic status for their staff and the right to acquire Nigerian citizenship

[7] Pharmaceutical giants from G7 member states must combine forces and manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Their Nigerian plant must manufacture up to 300m doses by the end of 2021

[8] Agricultural giants are welcome to come and invest heavily in cattle ranches, food processing plants, storage facilities and refrigeration in Nigeria. They will be offered 100 year land leases and five year tax holidays

[9] Each of these G& countries has a national airline. We want them to come and take out a 25% stake in Nigeria’s planned national carrier. Ant airline that comes will become a joint partner in the venture, second only to Air Peace, taking over all the assets of Arik Air

[10] Steel companies are desperately needed in Nigeria like yesterday. Steel giants from across the G7 are to purchase the Ajaokuta, Aladja and Oshogbo steel mills with a mandate to produce 20m tonnes by 2025