Islamabad Diary : Tazeen Akhtar
Pictures : Raja Ghulam Fareed
Governor of the state of Borno of Nigeria H.E Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has appreciated the hospitality and welcoming nature of Pakistanis. He has said that his travel to Pakistan has been pleasant. Here the main thing that impressed me more than anything else is the people take lead to greet you. Both countries can move forward to strengthen cooperation on federal as well as state level.
The governor shared this at High Commission of Nigeria in Islamabad at dinner with the members of his delegation and the staff of the H.C on 26 June evening after his daylong activities. The delegation first arrived at Lahore and from there traveled to Islamabad.
Professor Babagana his wife Falmata Umara Zulum and senior officials from Nigeria are in Pakistan on a planned exposure visit of the Multi Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project funded by the World Bank.
Charge d’ Affaires , Mr. Mohammed Tafida hosted dinner in honor of the governor and his delegation members. He welcomed the dignitary and other officials of Nigeria at the High Commission.
Mr. Tafida spoke highly about Professor Babagana in his welcome remarks. The staff of the high commission was very happy to find the officials of their country among them in Islamabad. The staff members of the H.C were wearing traditional Nigerian dresses and their faces were brightening with pleasure. Nigerian cuisine was served to the guests.
Charge d’ Affaires , Head of the Chancery and other officials of the High Commission presented memorial shields and souvenirs to Governor Babagana whose visit to Pakistan along with other officials of the government of Nigeria can be a new beginning in the bilateral cooperation of both countries.
Professor Babagana further said in his short address to the participants that the delegation visited Lahore Chamber of Commerce and National Emergency organization in Lahore. We observed that people of Pakistan are not only very nice but they are dedicated to their duties. He said that Nigeria and Pakistan can work on both federal as well as state level cooperation.
The Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project is aimed at supporting the Government of Nigeria towards rehabilitating and improving critical service delivery infrastructure, improve the livelihood opportunities of conflict and displacement-affected communities, and strengthen social cohesion in the North East Participating States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa territories.
It is to provide immediate and effective response to crisis or emergency. In their visit to Pakistan, the delegation is supposed to observe the mechanism and experiences of Pakistan in dealing with crisis and rehabilitation of the affected people.
Nigeria and Pakistan enjoy very cordial and close relations. Both have many commonalities other than the religion as well. Both countries are members of many intercontinental and international organizations including UN. Recently the Foreign Ministers of both countries participated in Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of D-8 in Istanbul Turkiye.
Earlier on 21 April 2022 General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor, Chief of Defense Staff Nigerian Armed Forces visited Pakistan and held meetings with President , COAS and other officials in which both sides reiterated the desire to deepen cooperation in the areas of defense and counter-terrorism.
Mamnoon Hussain was the first President of Pakistan to visit Nigeria in June 2014 on the invitation of President Dr Goodluck Jonathan . In this visit, both leaders agreed to cooperate in the fields of counter terrorism and defense, besides giving impetus to enhancement of trade, commerce, industry, agriculture, infrastructure, investment and human resource development. The President of Pakistan took 70 member trade delegation with him to Nigeria.
Former High Commissioner Mr. Dauda Danladi took 65 members Pakistani trade delegation from all sectors to Nigeria. The delegation visited Borno state as well. Manufactures of sports items and equipment made presentation and the government of Nigeria expressed interest to forge bilateral cooperation in this sector because the government had decided to revive sports activities in the schools.
Representatives of Pharmaceuticals companies and surgical equipment manufacturers discussed the possibility of floating a drug revolving fund to equip the hospitals for rehabilitation of the addict persons.
Pakistan is following “Look Africa Policy” to further fortify the relations in all areas of cooperation. Nigeria can benefit from this policy to further improve the level of cooperation with Pakistan. Most important is to follow up what already has been agreed between the Presidents of both countries and what already has been discussed during the visit of trade delegation of Pakistan to Nigeria.
Also expected is, the reciprocal high level visit of Nigerian leadership to Pakistan. It has been 10 years since the visit of President Mamnoon to Nigeria. The agreements , both the Presidents discussed should be implemented as soon as possible. It is hoped that Governor Babagana will take notice of this long pending matter and will discuss it with his colleagues in the government of Nigeria on his return to his homeland.
