Sit in your office and work for Nigerians – Oshiomhole tackles Minister over N1bn Switzerland trip budget

Senator Adams Oshiomole, a member of the Senate Committee on Trade, has voiced disapproval of the proposal by the Minister for Trade, Industry, and Investments, Doris Uzoka, to allocate N1 billion in the 2024 budget for a foreign trip to Geneva, Switzerland. Oshiomole raised concerns about the budgetary request during the appearance of the Minister before the Senate Committee on Trade on Tuesday, December 12.

Reacting to her presentation,  Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, urged the minister to utilize in-country expertise to cut costs, emphasizing the need for homegrown products and questioning the lack of data on Nigeria’s Balance of Trade.

“I see that you intend to travel to Geneva next year and you have budgeted over N1bn for that. We can’t keep going on with over-bloated teams on foreign trips. Use the experts we have in your offices in the country to save costs. Madam sit in your office and work for Nigerians. I have gone there twice. You are always in the Bank of Industry. If you preferred BoI, you should have declined the President’s nomination to be a minister. Let’s practise what we preach. We can’t talk about industrialisation and keep importing toothpicks and tyres. We must ensure that we have homegrown products.

What is our balance of trade, especially with China? Those countries exporting things to Nigeria are expected to build factories in Nigeria. We have to take advantage of our population to grow our industries?”