By Anayo Akwitti
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for stronger parliamentary relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with emphasis on legislative cooperation, knowledge-sharing and exchange programmes.
Akpabio made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Vowles, paid him a courtesy visit at his office.
He said Nigeria and the UK shared longstanding historical, economic and diplomatic ties that should be sustained and expanded, particularly through closer collaboration between their parliaments.
“The history of Nigeria will not be complete without the United Kingdom. For us in Nigeria, London is like a second home,” Akpabio said.
He noted that both countries had benefited from parliamentary engagements, including visits by members of the UK House of Commons to observe proceedings of the National Assembly and Nigerian lawmakers’ visits to the British House of Lords and House of Commons.
The Senate President said Nigeria could learn from Britain’s legislative experience, urging both parliaments to expand exchange programmes to strengthen institutional capacity and improve lawmaking.
“We want to deepen our relationship. We want to be able to have a lot of exchange programmes that will enable us to learn more and expand the relationship between the Nigerian Parliament as a whole and the United Kingdom in the area of legislation,” he said.
Akpabio also commended King Charles III for his hospitality towards President Bola Tinubu and his delegation during their recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
He said the King’s recognition of Nigeria’s population, economic potential and strategic importance to Africa’s security underscored the need to sustain the longstanding relationship between both countries.
The Senate President further urged British investors to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and mining sectors, assuring them of an improved investment climate, easier business processes and the opportunity to repatriate profits.
He encouraged Vowles to convey the message to prospective investors in the UK, expressing confidence that investments in Nigeria could yield substantial returns.
Earlier, the British High Commissioner said his visit was intended to convey his regards to the leadership of the Nigerian Parliament and reaffirm the depth of relations between both countries.
Vowles said the British government was committed to further strengthening bilateral cooperation, noting that the UK had maintained a longstanding relationship with both chambers of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
He assured Akpabio of Britain’s continued willingness to support and partner with the Nigerian Parliament where necessary.
RLS
