The agreement reached by Nigeria with the United Kingdom on Enhanced Trade in Partnership ( ETIP) makes no provision for lawyers in the UK to practise in Nigeria and vice versa, Nigeria’s Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said on Friday.
The minister, who made the clarification at a press briefing in Abuja, pointed out that it was wrong for people to impute what was not included in the MoU signed by the two countries to promote trade and investments.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite said: “We signed an MOU on Enhanced Trade in Partnership (ETIP) with the United Kingdom, where we extensively discussed the issue of joint regulatory protocols. This has culminated in the signing of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement.
“This agreement facilitates smoother trade processes, allowing Nigerian businesses to export more goods to the UK. It also provides capacity building and sensitisation for Nigerian exporters on how to benefit from the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which enables Nigerian exporters to export up to 3000 different agricultural products to the UK with beneficial terms.
“The partnership also encourages UK investors to explore Nigeria’s most promising sectors, working towards increasing reciprocal Foreign Direct Investment. This cooperation aims to spur economic growth through investments in infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing. Furthermore, the Regulatory Cooperation on Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) makes it easier for Nigeria to trade goods with the UK by preventing, identifying, and eliminating unnecessary technical barriers.
“This cooperation promotes good regulatory practices and identifies trade facilitation initiatives leading to the convergence of technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures with relevant international standards.
“These engagements and agreements are a testament to our commitment to fostering international relations that benefit Nigerian trade and investment. They represent a significant step towards our goal of economic diversification and sustainable growth,” the minister, who was flanked by her information counterpart, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian Bar Association, has already raised false alarm that the Nigerian government sealed an agreement with the UK for the purpose of allowing British lawyers to practise in Nigeria.
The NBA President, Yakubu Maikayau on Wednesday wondered why the Nigerian government would take such a decision, saying “It is, indeed, unfortunate that this tragic reminder of our colonial past is being gleefully celebrated at the highest level of the government of Nigeria. “What is more disheartening is the fact that a decision of this magnitude that adversely affects the well-being and livelihood of millions of Nigerians, could be taken without any consultation, especially with the Nigerian Bar Association.
“The NBA had no foreknowledge or inclination of the text of the said agreement.
“We could not therefore have contributed to it. I have since assuming office as president of the NBA clearly opposed any agreement that will compromise our legal space at all the meetings.”.
The NBA president argued that a provision of the agreement is reminiscent of “our colonial past.” adding, “I emphasised that we are not yet at a place for such an agreement and that even if we are to enjoy reciprocity with the UK (which is not an acceptable position), the knowledge and skills gap is so wide that we cannot favourably compete with the lawyers from the UK.”
Maikyau added: “It is truly tragic that while the government of the UK is seeking opportunities for its own lawyers beyond its constrained environment, the government of Nigeria is attempting to deprive Nigerian lawyers and their millions of dependents of means of livelihood.
“To embark on such a venture without recourse to the NBA is the height of insensitivity to the plight of the legal profession in Nigeria, and this is totally unacceptable,” the NBA said.
But the minister made it clear that there was no intention by the government to embark on such a venture and that what Nigeria signed with the UK was a Memorandum of Understanding, not an agreement of legal practice as misconstrued by many.
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