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Saudi Arabia commends relations with Nigeria

By Shakirah Adunola
12 October 2018   |   2:22 am
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, has commended the government and people of Nigeria for sustaining and consolidating the age-long relationship between both countries.

Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, has commended the government and people of Nigeria for sustaining and consolidating the age-long relationship between both countries.

The ambassador made the remark at the 88th Saudi National Day Celebration in Abuja. While addressing dignitaries at the gathering, Ambassador Bostaji said his country was one of the first to engage in full diplomatic relationship with Nigeria in 1960, when the country attained independence.

He also mentioned that an informal relationship existed long before the formal relationship. Prior to 1960, according to him, “relationship had existed in an informal way, dating back to hundreds of years when Muslim pilgrims embarked on tough journeys to the city of Mecca and Madinah for Pilgrimage. At some point, throughout the late 18th century, however, the relations shifted more towards formality when emissaries conveyed letters, gifts and messages on both sides from the Sultan and men in authority.”

Bostaji recalled that the history of Saudi Arabia has been characterised by the dynamism, adaptability and resilience of its people. He further noted that Saudi Arabia grown to be a global powerhouse in both energy and Islam to which the last United Nations Human Development Index accorded attention.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, while congratulating the kingdom on its national day celebration, stated that there is a cordial bilateral tie between the two nations. She said, “Nigeria has really had a long standing relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so, I wish Saudi Arabia all the best on its 88th celebration of National day.”

The Deputy Chairman, Nigerian-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship and Hajj Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Hon. Muhammad Sani Abdul, said the committee was established shortly after Prince Khalid Ibn Abdulah, son of the late King of Saudi Arabia, visited the National Assembly.

He added that the prince visited “three years ago” because of the need to establish a parliamentary relationship between the two nations, “so that things that couldn’t be done at the executive level, could be achieved through lawmakers.” Abdul made it known that the National Assembly visited the Shuura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia few years ago.

The Murshid of Abuja National Mosque, Prof. Shehu Ahmad Saeed Galadanci, who was a former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, also congratulated the country for the 88th National Day. The highlight of the event was the cutting of 88th anniversary cake of Saudi National Day in Nigeria. Prominent Nigerians as well as members of diplomatic corps from different countries joined the Ambassador Bostaji in the celebration.

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