With it looking like we will have the first ever female US president this November, I hope President Tinubu is working on a list of requests for Kamala Harris which look something like this

Ayo Akinfe

[1] For me, climate control is at the heart of US foreign policy and I think this is an area where Nigeria can make a killing. President Timubu should be demanding at least $10bn worth of US investment in the sector annually. This capital should be invested in solar farms, panel manufacturing plants, windmills, hydro-electric power plants, etc

[2] As part of the Paris Climate Accord, the US, like other industrial nations is committed to enforceable commitments that will reduce emissions in global shipping and aviation. President Tinubu should should be selling the Calabar/Uyo axis as the prime location for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) aviation depots

[3] Our 853km Atlantic coastline in Nigeria is crying out for shipyards and about five deep sea ports. I want to see President Tinubu sell an ambitious industrial plan to President Kamala Harris. His message to operators in this sector should be simple - Come to Nigeria

[4] President Tinubu should also offer a 99 year land lease and a five year tax holiday to any US company that builds a wind farm along Nigeria’s 853km Atlantic coastline

[5] A similar offer should also be made to anyone who builds a massive solar farm in Nigeria. For instance, the Kamuthi solar farm in Tamil Nadu State in India covers 10 square kilometres and has a capacity of 648MW. China’s Longyangxia Dam Solar Park is spread over more than 25 square kilometres. President Tinubu should offer 100 square kilometres across say five states that will generate say 7,000MW

[6] Any US shipyard that relocates to the Niger Delta should be granted an “Africa First” status, meaning that they will be the first point of call for any African nation wanting to purchase vessels

[7] Any US company that builds a hydro-electric power plant in Nigeria that generates in excess of 5,000MW, should be given a 10-year tax holiday, its staff given diplomatic status, a 99-year land lease to build its own housing estate and a 20 year guarantee of government patronage

[8] With the world moving to electric vehicles, Nigeria will not accept the three US automobile giants from refraining from building manufacturing plants in the country. President Tinubu should press President Harris to call the chairmen of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford to the White House, where they should name their terms for investment

[9] Across the board, President Tinubu should make it clear to President Harris that Nigeria needs double digit annual economic growth for the next 10 years. To achieve this, we need something like $50bn of US foreign direct investment every year

[10] India has cashed in on Covid-19 big time by successfully wooing a lot of US blue chip companies who left China because they felt it was dangerous to plant all their eggs in one basket. They did this by building purpose-built industrial cities. President Tinubu has got to offer to do the same but then get commitments from President Harris that US companies would be offered export credits and tax breaks to locate to Nigeria

Ayoakinfe@gmail.com