From David Onuoja, Abuja
Nigeria and Britain have established a strategic partnership designed to boost economic growth, strengthen security cooperation and enhance personal ties.
This is the highlight of the visit of the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, to Nigeria.
An earlier statement by the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer | Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development in Nigeria, Ndidi Amaka Eze said, the visit was to grow bilateral partnership with Nigeria.
Related News
The aim of his visit is “Growth is the core mission of this government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria and beyond”. David Lammy MP’s visit is the first trip to the African continent as Foreign Secretary.
The statement said, Lammy’s visit is to show UK’s Commitment to a fresh approach to Africa that works productively from Morocco to Madagascar; as the Foreign Secretary will announce the start of a five-month consultation process, to ensure African voices inform and sit at the very heart of the UK’s new approach to the continent.
According to him, “Accommodating the diverse needs and ambitions of 54 countries, the consultation will guarantee the UK’s relationships across Africa are based on mutual respect and partnership.
“Africa has huge growth potential, with the continent on track to make up 25% of the world’s population by 2050.
“Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long term growth rather than short term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent. I want to hear what our African partners need and foster relationships so that the UK and our friends and partners in Africa can grow together.
“Growth is the core mission of this government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria and beyond. This will mean more jobs, more prosperity and more opportunities for Brits and Africans alike”, he declared.
Meanwhile, at the end of the visit, both nations revealed that they had established a strategic partnership to boost economic growth, strengthen security cooperation and enhance personal ties.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and his British counterpart David Lammy outlined a partnership that also seeks to reinforce ongoing security and counter-terrorism efforts.
“By advancing our economic ties through investments and trade, we can unlock substantial growth for both nations, drive job creation and enhance local value addition,” Tuggar said during a joint press conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“It is an overarching framework for our relationship covering the breadth of things that we do together,” said Lammy, who also highlighted the importance of addressing economic growth, climate change, and security threats.
Lammy also stressed personal connections, adding that the sizeable Nigerian diaspora in Britain offers the potential for increased cultural exchange and economic cooperation.
Also, the UK Secretary of State, Lammy, had earlier met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, having agreed on a Strategic Partnership that will elevate the bilateral relationship between the UK and Nigeria.
