Statement by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the 9th D-8 Summit on 20 October 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey

20 October 2017, Istanbul-Turkey
Your Excellency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of
Turkey, our host, Chairman of D-8 
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government of the D-8 
Organization, 
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the D-8 Organization, 
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
I bring greetings from the Government and people of Nigeria to you
all, particularly to the Government and people of Turkey. Our profound
appreciation to President ERDOWAN, the. Government and people of 
Turkey for the warm hospitality accorded me and my delegation since our
arrival. 
2. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Your Excellency, for your
concern and sympathy during my recent health challenge from which I 
have recovered, not least because of your prayer and the prayers of many
other well-wishers and sympathisers. 
3. I want to seize the opportunity of my visit to Turkey, to once again
condemn the forceful attempt, in July 2016, to overthrow the legitimate and
democratically elected Government of Turkey. I also wish to once again
express my sympathy and condolence to the families of those who lost 
their lives in the coup attempt, and salute the heroic response of the people
of Turkey in defense of democracy and good governance. 
4. I will like to assure you that Nigeria will continue to stand side by side
with all peace-loving people of Turkey and elsewhere, for the defense and
promotion of democracy and people’s choice. 
5. I pay tribute to Your Excellency, for the great strides Turkey has
made in all domains in the last decade, under your inspirational leadership.
I salute your courageous, principled and firm stand on many challenges we
are confronting in the world today, particularly insecurity and catastrophic
humanitarian situations. 
Mr. President, 
6. It is a great pleasure for me to join you and other leaders for the 9th
Summit of our great Organization holding in this historic city of Istanbul,
where it all began 20 years ago. Let me congratulate Your Excellency, for
hosting us today and for the 20th anniversary of this Organization. Nigeria 
remains committed to the principles and objectives that informed the
establishment of this Organization in 1997, which is simply to provide better
standards of living for our people. 
7. I also wish to express my profound appreciation to 
 outgoing Chairman for presiding over the affairs of our Organization since November
2012; and for doing everything possible so that the Organization achieves 
its founding objectives and takes its rightful position among nations. 
8. Let me seize this opportunity to commend Dr. Seyed Ali Mohammad
Mousavi, the outgoing Secretary-General, for his commitment and strong
resolve to forge ahead even in the face of serious challenges in discharging 
his responsibilities. Your wealth of diplomatic and administrative
experience, as well as devotion to duty has greatly helped in the piloting of
the affairs of the Secretariat. Nigeria will continue to support the Secretariat 
in its assignments. 
Mr. Chairman, 
9. Nigeria is committed to, and is actively pursuing a policy of trade and
investment facilitation for growth. The gains from trade are reflected in
greater competitiveness, improved productivity, job creation, consumer 
welfare and prosperity. 
10. Economies that grow fastest and at more sustainable rates are those
that actively promotE3 trade and attract investment. We are committed to 
creating an enabling. environment and making Nigeria an attractive place 
for business and investment. 
11. I wish to reiterate the commitment we made in Abuja in July 2010 
regarding the critical importance of the Private Sector in our economic
policies. 
12. Having identified Trade as the engine of economic growth and
development, we must continue to enhance the enabling environment for it
to thrive. 
13. It is in this light that I wish to appeal to Your Excellencies to
encourage our respective Economic Agencies to be more active rn 
participation at executive meetings organized by the Secretariat. 
14. I am pleased to inform you of positive market developments currently
in Africa, that will support our efforts as Members of the D-8 to enlarge our 
markets, facilitate our trade and investments, and develop our economies. 
15. In Africa, we are on the threshold of finalizing negotiations to
establish the first ever Single Market for Trade in Goods and Services on
our Continent, in the Continental Free Trade Area for Africa. This will be a 
win-win for all, including member countries of the D-8. 
16. As partners, I urge that we work together to support this effort of the
African Union that will have a positive effect on global economic
development and integration. 
17. Nigeria remains committed to international trade and development. In
this regard, Nigeria is ready to host the Meeting of our Ministers of Industry 
from 14th – 16th next month. 
18. As the D-8, we need .to intensify our activities with a view to
enhancing various measures and incentives introduced to promote trade 
and assist the business communities from Member States to invest in our
countries and widen our cooperation. 
19. We need to work hard to establish integrated manufacturing
structures and markets. I will like to reiterate the importance of increasing
trade and investment between our Member States. We look forward to
welcoming you all in Abuja next month. 
20. Finally, Mr.· President, Your Excellencies, let me also congratulate
and welcome Ambassador Dato Ku Shaari of Malaysia as you assume
office as the new Secretary-General of this Organization. I wish you the
best of luck and I assure you of Nigeria’s support in discharge your 
responsibilities. 
I thank you all. 

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