President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged wealthy individuals in the country to develop more confidence in the nation’s economy by massively investing in Nigeria’s critical sectors in order to boost job and wealth creation.
The president gave the challenge when he hosted members of the business community and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast) at the State House in Abuja
According to the president, business and political leaders are not only important stakeholders but indeed indispensable to the growth and development of any economy.
The president pledged to continue to make strong case for synergy toward achieving greater investment in Nigeria’s economy.
The president also assured his guests that he would not only sustain efforts at fighting corruption, insecurity and smuggling but also create a more conducive atmosphere for Nigerian businesses and industrial concerns to thrive.
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He also promised to work more closely with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “towardnensuring that the country’s foreign reserve continues to grow so that Nigeria maintains a pride of place amongst the comity of nations.”
The president also spoke extensively on reasons for his decision to delay Nigeria’s ratification of the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
The Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who spoke on behalf of the business community, promised to support the ongoing efforts aimed at transforming the nation’s economy for the general good of the citizens.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")