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For Nigerian auto spare-parts dealers in Angola, building a thriving business thousands of kilometres from home has come with its own share of challenges.
At one point, restrictions imposed by the Angolan authorities left many of the traders without a place to operate for almost two years.
But after establishing a major auto spare-parts market in Luanda, the traders are now receiving assurances from the Nigerian government that their investments and businesses will be protected.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during a visit to Cidade de Motores, popularly known as the City of Engines, in the Golf 2 area of Luanda.
The visit was made on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The facility, established by the Nigerian Auto Parts Dealers Association, has become a major business hub and represents a significant investment by Nigerian entrepreneurs living and doing business in Angola.
Impressed by what she saw, the minister praised the traders for their resilience, enterprise and determination to succeed despite the challenges of operating far from home.
“We are very proud of you, having seen the worth of the enormous investment you have put on ground,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She assured the traders that the Federal Government would continue to protect the interests of Nigerians abroad and ensure that Nigerian-owned businesses receive appropriate attention in Nigeria’s bilateral engagements with other countries.
The minister said the protection of Nigerian investments in Angola would be prioritised during the next Nigeria-Angola Joint Commission, as both countries work to deepen their economic and diplomatic relations.
“We do not want a situation where people will invest and later some phony stories would be told about their investment,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further assured the traders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to the welfare and protection of Nigerians wherever they live and do business.
She, however, urged the traders to remain law-abiding and continue to project a positive image of Nigeria in Angola.
The minister also called for unity among the traders, warning against ethnic discrimination in the management of the market.
“There should be no room for tribalism,” she said.
From roadside trading to a business hub
Earlier, the President of the United Auto Parts Dealers Association, Chuks Ukachi, recounted the difficult circumstances that led to the establishment of the market.
He explained that Nigerian traders were forced to look for an alternative after Angolan authorities restricted roadside trading, leaving many without a place to conduct their businesses.
According to him, the traders endured almost two years of uncertainty before the association developed the Cidade de Motores facility.
Today, he said, the market provides a more structured environment for Nigerian traders and also welcomes Angolans interested in the auto spare-parts business.
“This is an open market; it is open for every Nigerian. In fact, it is for all of us,” Ukachi said.
He explained that the initiative was not merely about creating a place for Nigerians to trade, but also about creating a secure business environment and demonstrating the entrepreneurial strength of Nigerians abroad.
The association appealed to the Federal Government to provide the necessary diplomatic and institutional support to secure and protect the facility.
For the traders, government protection is not simply a diplomatic issue.
It is about safeguarding businesses built through years of hard work, investment and sacrifice — and ensuring that Nigerians who venture abroad in search of economic opportunities can do so with greater confidence and security.
The traders expressed hope that stronger government support would help protect their investment while further strengthening the economic relationship between Nigeria and Angola.
