Abuja — Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has stated that the Federal Government will explore the potentials of organizing a trade mission to market Nigerian products in Congo Brazzaville.

He stated this during a brief audience he had on Sunday August 15 with a delegation of the Nigerian community resident in Brazzaville, led by Nigeria's Ambassador to Brazzaville, Mr. Sale Manu Pisagih, at the Nigerian Chancery of Operation in Brazzaville.

Vice President Sambo was in the country to represent President Goodluck Jonathan, in felicitating with President Denis Sassou Nguesso, on the occasion of their 50th independence anniversary.

Arc. Sambo disclosed to the community that, 'the FG is presently putting all machinery in place to transform the economy for the better and ensure that the socio-economic standard of Nigerians improve, as well as, working towards conducting a free and fair polls come year 2011'.

He stated that the embassy will seek ways of availing Nigerians of the opportunity of having made in Nigeria products in Brazzaville, as the proximity of the two countries will make them cheaper. He added that, 'The FG has also made available finances at very low interest rates for business men to access in the development of their businesses'. These financial incentives, he said, are passed through the Bankers Committee of Nigeria and can be accessed through banks in Nigeria.

He commended the embassy on the ongoing embassy building project embarked on in Brazzaville, stating that this will further enhance the status of consular services and improve on matters necessary for the comfort of Nigerians in Congo. Arc. Sambo congratulated the community for the victory won in the Congo independence anniversary football match. He expressed appreciation at the warm reception granted him and extended to them the sincere greetings of President Jonathan.

The president of the Nigerian community informed Arc. Sambo that Nigerians in Brazzaville are law abiding and records to date indicate that there is no single Nigerian in any Congolese jail. He presented to Arc. Sambo the football trophy won by the community in the independence anniversary competition organized for all foreign communities resident in Brazzaville. The Nigerian team emerged first. They called on the FG to look into the issue of the reduction of air fares from Brazzaville to Lagos, as well as considering a commencement of a direct flight from Brazzaville to Lagos.

Vice President Sambo was accompanied by the Nigerian Minister of State, Foreign Affairs Dr. Idi Hong, the Congolese Minister of Construction, Town Development and Housing, Arc. Claude Alphonsus Nsilou and other officials.