• President, UK PM stress sanctity of rule of law
Nigeria is open to support and assistance from the Commonwealth in diverse areas of needs and challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared.
He spoke during a bilateral meeting, yesterday, with Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, on the sidelines of the Global Education Summit in London, United Kingdom.
Saying Nigeria was doing a lot to address food security through heavy investment in agriculture and also acknowledging the security issues confronting the most populous black nation, President Buhari welcomed the offer of assistance by the Commonwealth scribe.
Baroness Scotland said the 54-member state political association had developed programmes on agribusiness, mostly value addition for young people to get involved, climate change, criminal justice reforms, police reforms and security, inviting Nigeria to benefit from technical assistance that could be provided.
She added that since President Buhari is the Champion for Anti-Corruption in Africa, the Commonwealth has developed anti-graft benchmark tools, and would like to work with Nigeria in both public and private sectors.
Other areas the group could assist, according to the scribe, include countering violent extremism, trade and modalities to implement the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
ALSO, the President brainstormed with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the various forms of terrorism in Nigeria, with both agreeing that the judicial process must be allowed to run its full course.
The two leaders said it was important that the judicial process runs without interference, no matter who is involved.
He briefed the premier on the country’s power needs and efforts being made, as well as initiatives geared at achieving food security.
Buhari also reviewed the security situation in the different regions of the country, while PM Johnson pledged Britain’s preparedness to lend a helping hand.
The duo equally discussed how to increase trade relations, develop solar and wind power, robust leadership of the Commonwealth and other matters of mutual interest.
