President Bola Tinubu has commended the outgoing French
Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, for her dedication to enhancing
relations between France and Nigeria.
Tinubu has also called for cooperation between both
countries to address the prevailing threat of terrorism in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, and shared on his Facebook
page on Friday.
In a farewell meeting with the Blatmann, in Abuja on
Friday, Tinubu urged her to leverage her new role as Director for Africa
in the French Foreign Ministry to advocate the urgent need to upgrade technical
cooperation between Nigeria and France to defeat terrorism and violent
extremism.
While speaking during the meeting, Blatmann shared notable
achievements, highlighting France’s significant investments and remarkable
increase in bilateral trade.
According to her, France is among the top foreign investors
in Nigeria, with over $10 billion in investment stock, and with bilateral trade
increasing by 51 percent in 2021 and 2022.
She stated that, France is one of the biggest development
partners with over 3 billion Euros invested over the last decade by AFD and
PROPARCO. AFD now operates in 26 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The statement read, "President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in
Abuja, called for strengthened cooperation to address the prevailing threat of
terrorism, while commending the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria,
Emmanuelle Blatmann, for her dedication to enhancing relations between France
and Nigeria.
''You have been excellent in promoting bilateral relations
between both countries in the areas of economy, trade, education, arts, and
culture.
"Thank you for the hard work you have done in Nigeria
and for President Macron to appoint you to a new position as Africa Director,
it is a testament that you excelled in your assignment in our country.
''You will always be welcomed in Nigeria. On regional
security, we want you to remind Paris at every opportunity that it is necessary
to upgrade our technical cooperation in our joint efforts to defeat terrorism
and counter violent extremism in the region. "
However, Blatmann, said that ever since she arrived Nigeria
in October 2021, it has been a series of wonderful discoveries and amazing
encounters.
"I will definitely take away with me the energy and
creativity of this country that will forever guide me and fuel my
afro-optimism."
Credit: Facebook | Ajuri Ngelale
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