The Central African Republic has requested Nigeria to intervene in the United Nations embargo placed on the country on procurement of military equipment. The request was made when the CAR Minister of National Defence Mr Joseph Yakete led a high powered delegation to the Ministry of Defence.
Among other things, the minister solicited for Nigeria assistance to train its Armed Forces which is currently being reorganised. Mr Yakete also want Nigeria to consider investing in CAR agricultural and mineral sectors which he said are 95 percent under utilised.
The Minister described Nigeria as a shining example to the rest of Africa. He also thanked Nigerians living in CAR whom he said stand with the country during its internal crisis. He also conveyed the good wishes of the President and people of CAR to the government of Nigeria and wish President Muhammadu Buhari a speedy recovery.
In his response the Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali thanked the government and people of CAR for their visit and especially for the good will message to President Muhammadu Buhari. He acknowledged the significance of CAR in Africa and to Nigeria in particular. The Minister assure his colleague that Nigeria is concerned with the developments in CAR because 1/4 of the population of the country is made of Nigerians. Therefore, whatever affect the country will also affect Nigeria.
He urged the country to continue to promote peace and security through democracy and good governance without which no nation can prosper.
At the end of the visit the two Ministers agreed to draft a bilateral agreements that will lead to the training of CAR Military officers in National Defence College, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and possibly in Nigerian Defence Academy too.
You are please requested to disseminate this information to the general public through your medium.
Colonel Tukur Gusau
Public Relations officer to the Honorable Minister of Defence.
