Noting the security challenges faced by both the Nigerian and Turkish governments as well as the need to collaborate towards addressing them, Akpabio called for cooperation in other sectors too.
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President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured the Turkish Government that the Nigerian Government is prepared to uphold the bilateral agreement established between Nigeria and Turkey in the area of education, health and military collaboration to fight terrorism and insecurity.
He also pledged that the Tenth Senate would exert all efforts feasible to advance the long-standing bilateral ties and cooperation in critical sectors to continue in the overall interest of the two countries.
Akpabio, who gave the assurances on Wednesday when the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hidayet Bayraktar, paid a courtesy visit to his office, said: “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 area 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,” he stated.
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The Senate President continued, “No nation can do it alone, and that is why there is a need for cooperation and collaboration in the area of healthcare and other sectors and not only in military hardware. 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.
We would be delighted to visit the Turkey Parliament for an exchange of parliamentary ideas. The Senate will do everything to ensure that this cooperation continues in the overall interest of the two countries,” he added.
On his part, the Turkish Ambassador congratulated Senator Akpabio on becoming the President of the 10th Senate and assured the Senate leadership of improved bilateral ties between Nigeria and Turkey as well as increased support from the Turkish government for Nigeria’s various economic sectors.
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