Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and his Finance Counterpart Dr.Zainab Ahmed on Tuesday unveiled the state-of-the-art diplomatic village for diplomats and charged them to be good ambassadors of the countries in Nigeria.
Speaking desperately at the formal opening of The Diplomatic Village on Tuesday both ministers in their respective ministries said that they worked with the management of the facility to actualize the edifice which birthed the first duty-free diplomatic village in Nigeria.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Amb Zubairu Dada said that the state-of-the-art facility is to ensure that diplomats enjoy their stay in Nigeria.
He commended the management of the shopping complex with state-of-the-art facilities to endeavour to secure the facility for maximum use of diplomats from all parts of the globe residing in the country.
On her part, the Minister of Finance Dr.Mrs. Zinab Ahmed said that the unveiling of the duty-free edifice is in line with the Vienna Convention protocols on free duty for diplomats
She further said that the Finance Ministry approved the construction of the duty-free complex for shopping, wellness, laundry service, and other activities for human wellbeing.
She added that the decision to grant a permit for the opening of the facility is to comply with the dictates of international best practices on foreign service.
The Diplomatic Village Limited owners and managers of the facility said that it was founded in 2010 and licensed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to operate the first duty-free shops exclusively for members of the diplomatic corps, foreign envoys and visiting diplomats in Nigeria to purchase goods free from customs duty and Value Added Tax VAT.
The opening of the state-of-the-art facilities sitting at 2,700 square metres along the Olusegun Obasanjo Way Central Business District Abuja was witnessed by a long list of high-profile dignitaries and religious leaders in Nigeria.
