The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has written a letter to Nigeria’s president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of the Monday, May 29 inauguration.
Sunak reiterated that he looks forward to working with Tinubu, who was declared winner of the February 25 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He gave the same reassurance soon after the Nigerian politician was declared president-elect.
Sunak said he looked forward to welcoming Tinubu to London in April 2024 for the second Africa Investment Summit.
He said: “The summit will be a key moment to strengthen UK-Nigerian business partnerships in order to create jobs and growth, increase bilateral trade and investment, and support your aim of boosting Nigeria’s export competitiveness.”
The prime minister said the UK will continue to support Nigeria in addressing its security challenges through the sharing of expertise and tools.
In his words, “The UK has been a longstanding partner of Nigeria and we stand ready to support your efforts to build peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria. The UK Government welcomed the opportunity to hear your priorities when you met the Minister of State for Development and Africa last year. I am proud of our work supporting access to education and healthcare, improving governance, and helping meet the humanitarian needs of those affected by conflict,” the letter reads in part.
“Together, we can expand our partnership further, including by strengthening our trade and investment relationship for the mutual prosperity of both our countries through an Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.
“I also hope to continue our work in addressing the security challenges facing Nigeria and the wider region. Such challenges are not limited by borders; it is vital that we share expertise and tools to combat them. The National Security Adviser looks forward to further dialogue with your National Security Adviser later this year.
“The deep bond between our two nations comes not only from our shared heritage and the links between our people, including through education, the arts, and sport, but also our unique relationship through the Commonwealth.
“We can take pride in its values of democracy, good governance and cooperation. Through this forum, we will continue working in partnership to tackle global challenges like climate change, with its unique impact on Nigeria and your wider region, I believe our shared leadership on this can play a vital role.”
Sunak added that his government will continue liaising with Tinubu and his team “through the transition period and following your inauguration”.
On Wednesday, the President-elect relocated to the Defence House in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, ahead of his inauguration on Monday, May 29, 2023.
The vice president-elect Kashim Shetttima equally moved into the same facility. Both top politicians will later move into the Presidential Villa after the swearing-in ceremony.
Incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari also spent some weeks at the facility prior to his inauguration in 2015.
The Defence House is the official residence reserved for Nigeria’s presidents-elect since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.
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