Friday 18 January 2013

Britain to aid Nigerian military in fight against Boko Haram


UKThe United Kingdom (UK) wants to increase its aid to the Nigerian military in its fight against the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, and other terrorists in the West African sub-region, particularly Mali.
The new British High Commissioner in Abuja, Dr Andrew Pocock, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that London has great interest in Nigeria in view of its size, resources, importance in West Africa, the continent and globally.
He said: “Sadly, terrorism in the North has taken many lives and is damaging economic and development prospects; and increasingly, the daily struggle of too many poor people.
“Nigeria and the UK have a shared agenda not just to address security in the region, but worldwide. Nigeria is not alone in the fight against terrorism in your country. We are with Nigeria considering our interests here.
“We have a long history of military cooperation which we hope to expand. Nigeria is not alone, West Africa is not alone and Mali is not alone.
“The UK has experience of its own which it is already sharing with the Nigerian authorities. What is happening in Nigeria is part of the Sahelian problem just like what is happening in Mali.”
Stressing that the fight against terror demands an integrated political, economic, security and human rights approaches, he said that one of his cardinal objectives in Nigeria is to reduce terror threat in the sub-region.
His second objective, he said, is to boost trade partnership with Nigeria by increasing the trade volume between the two countries from $4 billion to $8 billion by the year 2014.
But to ensure more British businesses in Nigeria, he harped on the need for improvement in the business environment through more transparency, accountability and better infrastructure in Nigeria.
According to him, the revolution which took place in the telecommunications sector in Nigeria should be replicated in the power sector.
He also pointed out that the issues of corruption and lack of transparency and accountability do not only damage Nigeria’s reputation, but also add to the cost of business which deter investors and undermine the capacity of the state to deliver vital services.
Responding to a question on the reason for Britain’s amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914, he said: “Nigeria, with its people and vast resources, is better as one indivisible nation, rather than operating in units. It was an action taken in good faith.”
NaijaCenter

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