Theresa May takes powerful trade delegation to Nigeria in the hope of boosting bilateral commerce

BRTISH prime minister Theresa May will be leading a powerful trade delegation to Nigeria when she visits the country this week in what is expected to be the start of an aggressive post-Brexit trading programme aimed at boosting commerce with former colonies.

With Britain on the verge of leaving the European Union (EU), Mrs May has said that she hopes to replace the lost trade with increased commercial activity among the country's former colonies in the Commonwealth. In 1914, Britain created Nigeria having subjugated all the component empires that made up the territory and in 1960, London granted Nigerians independence.

Since independence, however, British investment in Nigeria and her other African Commonwealth has been miniscule but with punitive tariffs now applicable in Europe post-Brexit, Ms May has been forced to look towards Africa. This week, she is embarking on a trip to Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya where she will meet with Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Cyril Ramaphosa and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mrs May's entourage will include the London Stock Exchange, Cardiff-based cooling technology firm Sure Chill, solar tech provider Northumbria Energy from North Tyneside,

London-based start-up Farm.ink who have created a knowledge-sharing mobile platform for farmers and Northern Irish agri-tech leader Devenish Nutrition. Also onboard will be the world-renowned Scotch Whisky Association and Midlands manufacturing giant JCB.

Trade minister George Hollingbery and minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin will also be accompanying the prime minister, as will the secretary of state for Wales Alun Cairns, who will join on the trip to support the Welsh companies in the business delegation. Charles Bowman, the Lord Mayor of London is also accompanying the prime minister.

Paul Arkwight, the British high commissioner to Nigeria, said: “I am delighted to welcome the British Prime Minister to Nigeria this week. This is a huge opportunity for both our countries to work in partnership on trade, security and tackling the scourge of modern slavery and human trafficking.”

Mrs May will be the first British prime minister to visit sub-Saharan Africa since 2013 and the first to go to Kenya for over 30 years. She will use a speech on the opening day of the visit in Cape Town to set out how Britain can build a partnership side by side with Africa, particularly by bringing the transformative power of private sector trade and investment to a continent that is home to 16% of the world’s people but just 3% of foreign direct investment and 3% of global goods trade.

Mrs May said: "Africa stands right on the cusp of playing a transformative role in the global economy and as long-standing partners this trip is a unique opportunity at a unique time for the UK to set out our ambition to work even closer together. A more prosperous, growing and trading Africa is in all of our interests and its incredible potential will only be realised through a concerted partnership between governments, global institutions and business.

"As we prepare to leave the European Union, now is the time for the UK to deepen and strengthen its global partnerships. This week I am looking forward to discussing how we can do that alongside Africa to help deliver important investment and jobs as well as continue to work together to maintain stability and security."