This interconnectedness, he noted, justifies the substantial diplomatic mission in Nigeria dedicated to facilitating these connections.
By Musa Ibrahim
As the National Assembly begins another review of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the British Government has urged Nigeria to prioritize the establishment of state police and to enhance the representation of women in politics and parliament.
Yesterday in Abuja, during a courtesy visit to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard-Hugh Montgomery, emphasized the importance of prioritizing palliatives and social safety nets alongside the ongoing economic reforms. He highlighted the strong ties between Britain and Nigeria, including mutual diasporas and extensive people-to-people connections, underscoring the significant presence of both British nationals working in Nigeria and Nigerians in the UK. This interconnectedness, he noted, justifies the substantial diplomatic mission in Nigeria dedicated to facilitating these connections.
Montgomery said, “About democratic issues and legislative issues and your excellency, the reason why I wanted to pay my respects, pay my courtesy call, but also bring my delegation, is that where possible, we would like to understand your vision, your priorities for the 10th National Assembly. But before perhaps I table a few issues for interest and possible conversation, I would just like to make a broader statement about the UK Nigeria relationship. Because of course the UK and Nigeria, we have a long standing relationship based on a shared history and we have incredibly strong people to people links between our country.
“We have very significant connections between our democracies and our democratic institutions, whether it’s our parliaments or National Assembly, or it’s the Westminster foundation for democracy, or it is the constant exchange between parliamentarians here and parliamentarians in the UK.
“My general statement is that Nigeria and the UK have tried to significantly elevate our engagement and I think that has seen some very important steps forward. But your Excellency, Mr. Senate President, obviously this is the seat of Nigeria’s democracy and it is the role of any sensible diplomatic mission to understand the priorities and the debate in your parliament, in your National Assembly. And so I come to understand how you see the Nigeria challenge, the Nigeria progress, the renewed hope agenda, how diplomatic international partners can get behind that, but also to understand the debate that you’re having about the big and bold economic reforms that are happening, some of the constitutional review debates that you’re happening. And here, if you’re, if you’ll forgive me, I’m creating a little bit of an agenda for you to either respond on or ignore.
“Iam sure there are other distinguished Senators or principal office holders who may want to weigh in. But we are watching your debate about issues like State police, issues like promoting better representation for women in politics and in parliament, issues like the palliatives and social safety nets that need to go alongside the difficult economic reforms, but very impressive economic reforms that are being undertaken.
“There may be other constitutional issues that you are debating that it is important for us to understand. So, your Excellency, there are many other issues I could raise, but I want to come to an end and give a chance for both to hear about your priorities, your Excellency, and also some of the issues and challenges that face the legislative agenda and debate over the next few years. But thank you again for receiving me and my team.
“There may be other constitutional issues that you are debating that it is important for us to understand. So, your Excellency, there are many other issues I could raise, but I want to come to an end and give a chance for both to hear about your priorities, your Excellency, and also some of the issues and challenges that face the legislative agenda and debate over the next few years. But thank you again for receiving me and my team.
“That first year has seen, I think, a significant elevation in the relationships that are being established between my government and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And those relationships have been elevated in a number of quite specific areas of mutual interest and I hope mutual benefit.
“So very soon after his Excellency the President, Ahmad Tinubu was inaugurated, my foreign Secretary had the privilege of being, I think the first international notable leader to come and call on his excellency. And we agreed then that we should talk more about security defence, we should talk more about investment and trade.
“Iam delighted to say that in February this year, our two governments signed a renewed security defence partnership and we signed an enhanced trade and investment partnership. And then in March, we held migration Justice Home affairs talks, which is a regular annual dialogue. And we have been talking to the Ministry of Foreign affairs about global, regional foreign affairs issues that we need to have a constant dialogue on to share views between our two sovereign powers.
“Thank you again for the partnership that we have both as two countries but also between our parliamentarian systems. And I look forward to hearing more about your priorities, your Excellency. And I’ll finish there. Thank you.”
Responding, the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio who thanked the British envoy for his inputs into democratic governance in Nigeria, said, ‘ We value your input to democratic practice not just in Nigeria but in Africa.”
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