Juliana Taiwo
12 December 2008
Abuja — President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has called for closer ties between Nigeria and the Republics of Finland and Gabon.
He made the call when he received the Letters of Credence of the Ambassador of Finland, Ms. Anneli Elsa Mari Vourinen, and the Ambassador of Gabon, Mr. Corentin Bernadin Harve-Akendengue, yesterday at State House, Abuja.
The President said that steps would be taken to renew the expired trade agreement between Nigeria and Finland.
He also noted that Finland had a good record of supporting Nigeria on international matters and assured her of Nigeria's support for her quest for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Ambassador Vourinen in her remarks, commended Nigeria's peace-keeping roles in Africa and the world promising to work hard to expand bilateral relations especially in the fields of energy, environment, technology, reforestation, training and capacity-building.
She said a trade delegation from Finland would be coming to Nigeria next year, while expressing her country's support for Nigeria's interest in securing a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
President Yar'Adua while receiving the Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Gabon, Mr. Harve-Akendengue, commended the excellent relationship between Gabon and Nigeria since independence in 1960.
The President said that with the current bi-lateral air services agreements between both countries which had paved the way for Nigerian airlines to ply the Lagos-Libreville route, the initial constraint of distance had been overcome. He also noted that movements of peoples of both countries had been eased while enhancing bilateral trade.
Yar'Adua lauded the peace moves embarked upon by President Omar Bongo in the trouble spots in the Central African region, assuring him of Nigeria's commitment towards boosting trade with Gabon.
Ambassador Harve-Akendengue in his remarks briefed President Yar'Adua on President Bongo's interventions aimed at resolving crises in Central Africa, especially in the Republic of Congo, said that he would use his tenure in Nigeria to reinvigorate relations with his country.
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