The UK government has promised to attain a better bilateral
and diplomatic relationship with Nigeria.
UK Foreign
Secretary Boris Johnson and International Development Secretary Priti Patel,
made this known at the unveiling ceremony of the new British High Commission on
Thursday in Abuja. Johnson said that the new British High Commission, which is
now located at Plot 1157 Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, was
expected to strengthen relationships with both countries. “It gives me a great
pleasure to open this wonderful, new, super, colossal British High Commission
in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja although some of our officials moved in six weeks
ago. “It would further strengthen the British diplomatic ties with Nigeria.
“The new British
High Commission accommodates all of the UK Government Departments working in
Abuja. “It provides a single platform
for all the UK based and locally engaged staff working across Her Majesty’s
Government which includes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department
for International Development and Home Office.
“The New British
High Commission building is a symbol of our long-term commitment to Nigeria.
The UK has a long history with Nigeria and our pr esence in Abuja has grown
with the city, spreading across multiple locations,” Johnson said. Patel also
said that the new building served symbolised a better relationship and
investment in Nigeria. “There is no
better country to visit than Nigeria for so many good reasons, especially as
Nigeria has a special relationship with Britain.
“The UK-Nigeria
relationship is one of the strongest relationships in the world also our
bilateral footprint from a development perspective is one of the strongest in
the world. “The purpose of our visit has
really been to see the depth of that relationship and to see the frontline and
backline of the work we collectively do. “I have had the privilege of going
into the building to meet the teams who work on our programmes but most
importantly on the programmes that are here in Nigeria that are keeping so many
people alive. “Also providing hope where there is despair in some part of the
country and looking to the future where we are investing in the future of
Nigeria.
“This is something
achieved with the help of the fantastic team here at the British High
Commission and they are now all privileged to work in this amazing building and
environment. “We hope to return in the future but also be part of the great
wide changing footprint we have here,’’ she said. Some staff had been occupying
the building since July, which now accommodates all of the UK Government
Departments working in Abuja. It provides
a single platform for more than 100 UK based individuals and over 164 locally
engaged staff across the UK government. British High Commission operations were
significantly constrained by inadequate accommodation across four sites with
little or no room for expansion. The new
office has been built on a site in the Diplomatic Quarter designated to the UK
government by the Nigerian government.
(Source: NAN)
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