Atiku tells British high commissioner that he wants to deepen the relationship with Nigeria

FORMER vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has assured Britain that he will enhance the bilateral relationship between both nations if elected into office next year.

Alhaji Abubakar who served as the deputy to former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, is standing in the 2023 elections. Yesterday, Catriona Laing, the British high commissioner to Nigeria met with Alhaji Abubakar at his Abuja residence as part of the ongoing engagement of the UK government to enhance democracy and credible elections in Nigeria.

During the meeting, the former vice president asked for increased collaboration between the two governments in a bid to find solutions to issues that are of mutual benefits to both countries. At the parley, they discussed a wide range of issues bordering on security, education, agriculture, economy and fostering national unity in Nigeria.

Atiku expressed gratitude to the UK delegation for making out time to hold the meeting, noting that the  bilateral ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom it is important for both countries to leverage on that to promote issues that are of mutual concern. He added that he expects the United Kingdom to play a more active role for the survival of democracy in Nigeria and that he is confident that the 2023 presidential elections will be free and fair.

On the issue of insecurity, he decried the poor state of affairs in the country and solicited UK assistance especially in the area of training and intelligence sharing. He added that if given the opportunity to preside over Nigeria’s affairs, he would, among other things, abolish the multiple exchange rate regimes and reduce tax to encourage genuine manufacturers and promote real investments.

He also promised to boost agriculture in order to create employment for the country’s teeming population. Furthermore, Alhaji Abubakar promised to carry out reforms in the education sector, including the reinvigoration of financial loans schemes to Nigerian students.