Attacks won’t weaken our resolve to defeat terrorists – Amb. Guaer

Amb. Denis Guaer, Ambassador of France to Nigeria.

France has said that the terrorists’ attacks on the country would not weaken its determination to fight Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and terrorists all over the world.

Amb. Denis Guaer, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, who made the remarks at the 2016 France National Day in Abuja, gave an assurance that France was committed to defeating terrorism.

According to him, France will continue to cooperate with Nigeria and its neighbours to defeat Boko Haram insurgency and ensure the security of the sub-region.

“We indeed work hand-in-hand with all the neighbours of Nigeria to ensure security and stability in West Africa.

“The France engagement in the fight against terrorists is global and the attacks on our own soil will not weaken our resolve.

“Our presence was with our partners in Iraq and in Syria; when terrorists were on the verge of taking control over Mali, we intervened to help that country,” he said.

Gauer said France extended efforts to the whole Sahel Region against Boko Haram and strongly supported all the countries of all the Lake Chad Basin in the fight against insurgency.

He, however, encouraged Nigeria and its neighbours to closely cooperate to finally defeat insurgency and secure the sub-region.

“Solutions can come only through common regional efforts in which Nigeria has a central role to play and with the high determination showed by Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari.

“Last month, we signed a special inter-governmental agreement to further reinforce the ties between our armed forces.

“We contribute also bilaterally and through the EU, to reduce the sufferings of the affected populations by financing humanitarian assistance,” he said.

He said France, through the French Development Agency, had provided soft loans worth more than one billion Euros since 2008 to finance power, public transportation, urban planning and agricultural projects.

“Several important business delegations came over the last year, and Nigeria is already our first trading partner in Africa,” he said.

He commended the efforts of the present administration’s historical effort to improve governance, sanction immoral behaviours and foster greater sense of common interest.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, said that France’s relationship with Nigeria in the last two years had been the best.

“Despite all your domestic issues, you played a key role towards bringing Nigeria and the neighbouring countries together in the fight against terrorism.

“It is important at this time to continue to foster relationship and build on the strong economic and social relationship we’ve had so far.

“And on our part, led by President Buhari, we will continue to make Nigeria a friendly and a destination point for investment,” he said.

Saraki said Nigeria, through the senate, was putting in place laws to making Nigeria a very favorable place for investment, particularly in infrastructure, road transportation, port reforms, and railway.