By Chioma Nnodim
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barr Nyesom Wike, has called for stronger cooperation among African countries for sustainable development of the continent.
Wike made this known when the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mr Kalilou Traore, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday.
He also stressed the need for stronger ties among ECOWAS countries for the development of the sub-region.
He said: “We will continue to strengthen our relationship. “Luckily, our President is the Chair of ECOWAS, and so, we will do everything we can to see that our relationship is smooth, cordial and symbiotic.”
He commended Cote d’Ivoire for taking steps to develop the plot allocated to its Embassy in Abuja.
The minister explained that the FCTA had insisted that all allocated land must be developed as part of measures to check insecurity in the FCT. “I thank you for developing the land that was given to you. “The whole essence is for fighting insecurity. We do not want to leave certain areas for miscreants, and so we thank you for the cooperation,” he said.
Wike also congratulated Cote d’Ivoire for winning the last edition of the African Cup of Nations. “Even though that is particularly not what we wanted. We wanted to come back home with the cup, but God said that it is your own turn. “So, I congratulate you for that and also for being a good host for the tournament,” he added.
Earlier, Traore said that the visit was to inform the minister that the Embassy was about to begin the development of the land allocated to it in Maitama.
This, he explained, was in line with the minister’s directive that all allocated plots must be developed within a specified or would be revoked.
“We were given two plots in Abuja: one at the Diplomatic Drive area and the other at Maitama. “We have built a big building in the Diplomatic Drive area, and we are about to commence the development of the plot in Maitama,” he said.
On cooperation, the Ambassador said he has concluded plans to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in different areas. “I also want to come to you with a proposal of twinning Abuja and the political capital of Cote d’Ivoire, Yamoussoukro, to find a common ground to move forward,” he added.
