Canada To Train Nigerian Security Agents

A communiqué released to newsmen said the agreement was reached at an inaugural Nigeria and Canada Bi-National Commission meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, according to the communiqué, signed on behalf of Nigeria while Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baid, signed for his country.

“While recognizing that lasting security demands a multi-level approach, including development, education, democracy and human rights, both countries resolved to effectively cooperate particularly to enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Security Services to enable them to respond adequately to internal and regional security challenges,” the communiqué read.

“Welcoming the rapid growth in trade and investment between them, the two countries committed themselves to aim for the reduction and elimination of barriers to increased economic and commercial relations. To this end, both countries have decided to initiate discussions and negotiations on such agreements as may be

necessary, particularly that will lead to the signing of a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement, FIPA,” it further said.

The two countries also resolved to work closely on areas of power, mining, aviation, education and skill acquisition training.

“Recognising the importance of power, mining, aviation, education (including skills acquisition training) to address youth unemployment)
to national development and poverty eradication, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to support and facilitate foreign investment in these areas”, the communiqué said.

It said both countries also welcomed the rapidly growing private sector interest in trade and investment including the establishment of the Canada-Nigeria Business Association and the increasing involvement of the Canadian-Nigerian Diaspora.

”The two countries also pledged to encourage new links between institutions at Federal and State/Provincial levels, and the expansion of people to-people ties particularly through improvement in the delivery of

Both countries reaffirmed the underlying principles of the BNC and pledged that the BNC will be the basis for constructing a lasting strategic partnership between the two federal and multicultural democracies”,it further said.

Considering that security and prosperity are inextricably linked, the two countries agreed that effective political, economic, security and development cooperation among them will contribute to building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. They further committed themselves to promoting human rights for all, good governance and

democratic development just as they restated their commitment to work together on issues of common regional and global challenges, including counter-terrorism especially in Mali.

Middle East and Commonwealth reform as well as visas by both countries were in the agenda. The two countries resolved to support programmes enhancing human and social development including free and fair elections through building capacity of electoral institutions.