Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to upholding the bilateral agreement with Turkey during his discussions with the Turkish Government on Wednesday.
He pinpointed the agreements between Nigeria and Turkey prioritize joint efforts in education, health, and military cooperation as part of the larger strategy to combat terrorism and ensure security.
Akpabio made a commitment that the 10th Senate would spare no effort to guarantee the continuous progress of the enduring bilateral relations and collaboration in critical sectors, promoting the overall welfare of both nations.
He shared these views while welcoming Mr. Hidayet Bayraktar, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, during their meeting in Abuja.
Akpabio stated: ‘On behalf of the leadership of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’
‘I welcome you to the Senate, we are very happy and delighted to receive you and your team in the Senate.’
‘Nigeria and Turkey have very cordial bilateral relationship in the areas of education and military.’
‘Both countries are currently being faced with insecurity and terrorism, but you have the experience and that is why you have been able to deal with it in a decisive manner.’
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He accentuated the importance of cooperation and collaboration, particularly in healthcare and other sectors, rather than solely focusing on military hardware, noting that addressing challenges requires collective action and not isolated efforts.
‘We need each other to overcome our security challenges and I commend the Turkish Parliament for standing by its people to fight terrorism and insecurity,’ he added.
Stressing the significance of unity, Akpabio Hammered on the need for people to come together in Africa to collectively fight against terrorism and insecurity.
‘We will be delighted to visit the Turkey Parliament for exchange of parliamentary ideas.’
‘The Senate will do everything to ensure that this cooperation continues in the overall interest of the two countries,’ the president of Senate said.
The Turkish Ambassador felicitated Akpabio on assuming the role of the President of the 10th Senate.
He pledged to the Senate leadership that Nigeria and Turkey would experience improved bilateral relations, with the Turkish government offering greater support to enhance various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
As part of a separate engagement, the Senate President had a meeting with Rev. Father Innocent Jooji, who is associated with the Abuja Catholic Diocese.
Acting as the representative of the Arch Bishop of Abuja, Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Jooji visited Akpabio to present a congratulatory message for his election as the President of the Senate.