THE need for the international community to assist Nigeria in fighting terrorism formed the crust of President Goodluck Jonathan's speech in Abuja Tuesday as he restated his call for greater global co-operation and coordination against the ugly trend.
Speaking at separate audience with the new ambassadors of Israel, Russia, Greece and Algeria, who presented their letters of credence to him at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan said that Nigeria and other countries stood to benefit immensely from greater collaboration among their security agencies on efforts to combat domestic and international terrorism.
The President told the in-coming ambassadors that Nigeria would welcome increased cooperation from countries that are more experienced in such matters for its on-going operations against domestic terrorist groups.
President Jonathan told the new Israeli Ambassador, Mr. Uriel Palti; Mr. Alekos Oikonomopoulos, Mr. Nikolay Udovichenko, Mr. Belkacem Smaili and Mr. Amadou Habibou, the new ambassadors of Greece, Russia, Algeria and Senegal, that Nigeria would continue to strengthen its diplomatic ties with their respective countries, urging them to reciprocate the gesture.
He told the new Israeli envoy that he looked forward to visiting Israel later this year to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He also assured the envoys that the Federal Government would fully support their efforts to strengthen existing cordial relations between Nigeria and their countries.
The new envoys expressed their delight at being posted to Nigeria and promised to do everything possible to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between their countries and Nigeria.
The Guardian