British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming weeks for high-level discussions on Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, according to the outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery.
Montgomery disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, at the Revenue House in Abuja.
According to the British envoy, the planned meeting will focus on the Tinubu administration’s monetary, fiscal and tax reforms, which he described as laying the foundation for Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.
He noted that although the reforms had resulted in short-term challenges, including inflation and exchange rate adjustments, they were necessary steps toward restoring macroeconomic stability and strengthening investor confidence.
Reflecting on his three-year diplomatic mission in Nigeria, Montgomery said he had witnessed significant policy reforms aimed at repositioning Africa’s largest economy. He commended the government’s economic management team for its fiscal discipline and determination in implementing reforms that many countries would find difficult to execute.
The envoy also cited leadership changes at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, efforts to attract investment and improvements in Nigeria’s credit ratings as indicators of growing confidence in the economy.
Montgomery, however, urged the Federal Government to accelerate economic growth, saying Nigeria should target an annual growth rate of about seven per cent over the next four years to deliver broader economic benefits to its citizens.
He further described the Nigeria Revenue Service as one of the United Kingdom’s strongest institutional partners, highlighting its collaboration with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in strengthening tax administration through peer review initiatives.
Responding, Adedeji thanked the British High Commissioner for his support during his tenure, describing his technical assistance and personal commitment as valuable to Nigeria’s ongoing reform agenda.
Ahead of the anticipated meeting, President Tinubu congratulated Burnham on his emergence as the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the UK.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the President described the peaceful transition of power in the United Kingdom as a reflection of the country’s enduring democratic traditions.
Tinubu also expressed optimism that Burnham would build on the progress recorded under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, pledging Nigeria’s readiness to deepen diplomatic, economic and strategic cooperation with the new British administration.
