Nigeria is too big and diverse for us to blindly sign agreements without understanding - President Buhari

President Buhari has said ‘‘Nigeria is too big and too diverse to blindly sign agreements without understanding the consequences of such actions’’.

He made the declaration when he received representatives of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) led by its president, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, at the Presidential Villa.

The President used the occasion of his audience with members of the LCCI to shine more light on his decision to inaugurate a Presidential Committee Monday this week to assess the potential costs and impact of the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Nigeria.

‘‘Nigeria is still assessing the impact of this agreement on its backward integration and import substitution policies.

Specifically, the provisions on rules of origin and transhipment were matters of concern to us.

Already, some of the treaties we are party to have been significantly abused resulting in massive smuggling which has crippled many of our local industries and destroyed millions of jobs.

To avoid these past mistakes, we conducted vast consultations across the country in which the LCCI participated. The responses have been mixed,’’ the President said.

On the issue of the gridlock in Apapa, Lagos, President Buhari acknowledged that the situation was a major concern to all.

The work on Wharf road is in progress. We will continue to do our best to expedite the repair works at the Ijora Bridge without compromising quality.

‘‘We have also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation to use their infrastructure in the ports to support the evacuation efforts, thereby further decongesting the area.

‘‘Be assured that the completion of these projects is a major priority of this administration,’’ he said.