The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), has reassured Nigerians living in Angola of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security and tackling insecurity, including threats arising from instability in the Sahel region.
Musa gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
The engagement was coordinated by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The Nigerian delegation to the AU summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing the Nigerian community, Musa acknowledged the security challenges confronting the country, noting that some of the threats were linked to instability in the Sahel region, with their effects spilling across national borders.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen the country’s borders and prevent security threats and incursions.
The Minister said the administration of President Tinubu remained committed to defeating security threats across the country, adding that efforts were ongoing to increase the manpower, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
“The Federal Government remains committed to strengthening national security and addressing the challenges posed by insecurity and instability in the Sahel region,” Musa said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigeria’s economy was growing and the country was on the path to full recovery.
“Nigeria is growing, the economy is growing and Nigeria is on the path of full recovery,” Tunji-Ojo said.
Responding to a request by members of the Nigerian community for the establishment of a passport production centre in Angola, the Minister said he would look into the request to ease the issuance of passport booklets in the country.
Coordinating the meeting, Dabiri-Erewa commended members of the Nigerian community in Angola for their contributions to Nigeria’s development and for continuing to project the positive image of the country abroad.
She assured them that the Federal Government valued their contributions, concerns and welfare, stressing that the voices of Nigerians in the Diaspora remained important in shaping policies and interventions affecting them.
Dabiri-Erewa also encouraged Nigerians in Angola to remain united, law-abiding and committed to contributing positively to the development of both Nigeria and their host country.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community in Angola, the Secretary of the Nigeria Community Association in Angola, Nnaemeka Francis Obi, commended the Federal Government delegation for the engagement and highlighted some of the challenges confronting Nigerians living in the country.
Obi specifically called for the establishment of a Nigerian passport office in Angola, noting that access to passport and consular services remained a major concern for members of the community.
He also raised concerns over healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians living in Angola and called for the introduction of direct flights between Nigeria and Angola by a Nigerian airline.
The engagement provided an opportunity for members of the Federal Government delegation to hear directly from Nigerians in Angola and reaffirm the government’s commitment to deepening Diaspora engagement and addressing issues affecting their welfare and interests.
NiDCOM reiterated that the Federal Government, through relevant agencies, would continue to strengthen its engagement with Nigerians across the globe while working towards responsive solutions to issues affecting their welfare and interests.
