Ten takeaways from President Buhari’s go to to Portugal

The presidency has launched 10 takeaways from President Muhammadu Buhari’s current go to to Portugal.

Garba Shehu, spokesperson to Mr Buhari, on Sunday, in an announcement stated the President’s go to between June 28 and July 2, was a firstclass story, which is measurable by outcomes.

Mr Shehu listed the true dedication of the 2 nations -Nigeria and Portugal- to forge a detailed relationship as one of many main outcomes of the go to.

Learn the complete assertion beneath:

TEN TAKEAWAYS FROM STATE VISIT TO PORTUGAL: TWO NATIONS AND THE WILL FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

By Garba Shehu

President Muhammadu Buhari’s State Go to to Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday twenty eighth June to 2nd July was a firstclass success story and that is measurable by outcomes, not least, the true dedication of the 2 nations to engender a detailed relationship.

Many in Nigeria do not forget that traditionally, Portuguese sailors have been the primary in Europe (forward of British) to have contact with the territory now known as Nigeria, when a sure Explorer, Rui de Sequira visited the Lagos space in 1472, truly naming the world across the metropolis as Lago de Curamo, which implies Lake of Curamo (Curamo, recall Kuramo Lagoon, Kuramo Seashore and Kuramo Corridor on the well-known Eko Lodge, Lagos).

Among the many essential issues embedded within the imaginative and prescient of Nigeria’s position and place on the earth , clearly laid by President Muhammadu Buhari, is the revival of essential relationships which have suffered lengthy neglect. As well as, he has a powerful willingness to imagine the management anticipated from Africa’s largest nation in inhabitants and financial system.

So herein lies the primary significance of this go to.

One, there could be no higher illustration of the bigger strategic purpose of the way forward for this relationship than the eight agreements and Memoranda Of Settlement, MOUs signed in the midst of this go to.

These are the MOU on political consultations, diplomatic coaching, analysis and change of data and documentation; cooperation within the discipline of tradition; within the discipline of ladies and women growth, empowerment and gender affairs; youths and within the space of sports activities.

On the very effectively attended Portugal and Nigeria Financial Discussion board with the chosen theme: “Increasing Funding and Commerce Between Nigeria and Portugal,” two agreements additionally have been signed, one between the Nigerian Funding Promotion Council and AICEP, its Portuguese equal and one other between the Nigerian Affiliation of Chambers of Commerce, NACCIMA and the same physique in Portugal.

Two, this go to achieved a want for a strategic partnership to strengthen the work Nigeria has been praised for doing by all ranges of Portuguese authority- President, Prime Minister, President of Nationwide Meeting and Mayor of Lisbon-which is her stabilizing position in West Africa and importantly for the hosts, the steadiness and assist of the ex-Portuguese territories within the subregion, particularly Guinea Bissau and São Tomé and Principe. That is resonating very effectively with the Portuguese.

Three. Invariably linked to that is the convergence of strategic pursuits and the laying of a framework to strengthen safety and cooperation between the 2 states.

Portugal which has an affiliation with with its former territories in Africa, the equal of our personal British Commonwealth made up of Angola and Cape Verde along with the 2 others states talked about. They’ve troops deployed for safekeeping responsibility in West Africa. They’ve dedicated to assist Nigeria in navy coaching, the sharing of intelligence and within the conflict towards terrorism.

4. Nigeria and Portugal have equally recognized a standard curiosity and purpose within the transatlantic gasoline pipeline for which our nation wants funding and safety. That is with a view to discovering a market in Europe for the big gasoline sources out there to us. After listening to a briefing on the pipeline by Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC) Restricted, President Marcelo de Sousa was fast to indicate curiosity within the maritime mapping of the gasoline pipeline, as a substitute of the Trans Saharan pathway which is equally an choice. Portugal, says President Sousa has chosen for itself, the position of the spokesman and defender of African pursuits within the EU.

ALSO READ: VIDEO: Nigeria, Portugal signal MOUs in various sectors

Nigerian LNG is essential for Portugal particularly presently of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the regime of western sanctions imposed on the Russian provide of oil and gasoline.

With 60 p.c of our LNG going to Portugal, assembly 30 p.c of their power wants, Portugal is at the moment extra power safe than most of their Russia-dependent European neighbours. It’s noteworthy that the Portuguese are very appreciative of the consistency and reliability of the gasoline from Nigeria, thanks after all to good administration from NLNG.

5. The Kano-Maradi railway line being constructed by a Portuguese firm, Mota-Engil, is popping out to be a big issue within the rising relations between our nations.

Regardless of President Buhari’s emphasis at a number of talking alternatives that the contractor met all necessities to beat others to get the job, the Portuguese authorities see it not solely as a milestone in commerce relations but in addition as a trailblazer and a precursor to the evolution of Nigeria because the gateway to the huge African market opened up by the African Continental Free Commerce Space, AfCFTA.

President Sousa spoke about their want for the entry into the Nigerian market of Portuguese firms, “not in 30s or 100, however of their 1000’s.”

Six, Portugal, which was a powerful power within the UN recognition of Nigeria as one in all 5 centres for vaccine manufacturing in Africa has decided to key into our well being sector. They may are available in. It’s a rustic with a really robust pharmaceutical financial system.

Seven, within the selection of Jose Peseiro, the Portuguese coach of the Tremendous Eagles, Nigeria struck one more constructive wire that resonates politically and diplomatically.

Even earlier than the appearance of coach Peseiro, there are greater than 200 skilled soccer gamers of Nigerian origin in Portugal.

A few of them have been delivered to a gathering with the President, coordinated by Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Fee (NiDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Now, we’ve a dedication that the nation well-known for producing Ronaldo, and for its globally acknowledged soccer academy is opening up possibilities for our youth to coach.

Eight, there may be additionally a welcome plan to share the achievements of Portugal within the discipline of renewable power. With 60 p.c of their power received from renewable sources, that nation ranks among the many world leaders, hoping to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

For the Buhari administration, and hopefully for the succeeding ones, the attainment of set local weather change aims will proceed as a precedence. For our two nations, this can be a win-win.

9, we’ve now an MOU on political consultations, diplomatic coaching, analysis and change of data and documentation. It will see our two nations working hand in hand at multilateral establishments together with the UN. Portugal prides herself with expertise in worldwide relations.

Ten. Lastly is the essential factor concerning the very robust alignment of strategic pursuits of each nations. It’s uncommon to see this wherever. The dedication to be with Nigeria is all over the place: All ranges of authority within the nation: President, Prime Minister, President of the Nationwide Meeting, and Mayor of Lisbon exhibiting a complete dedication to align with Nigeria. President Sousa in his second time period stated “I waited six years for this marriage.”

They honored him with that nation’s highest nationwide order.

For President Buhari, this go to is an affirmation of the norm that world aspirations have to be accompanied by world engagements and an indication of his dedication to show commitments into actions.

Hopefully, these will result in the acceleration of the nation’s financial progress, securing the nation, attracting funding and creating jobs.

Garba Shehu is Senior Particular Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity.

July 3, 2022