Yar'Adua, Finnish president meet on security, trade, others
From Madu Onuorah, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, John-Abba Ogbodo and Terhemba Daka, Abuja
NIGERIA and Finland are to enter into partnership towards tackling environmental, security and trade issues. Hints about this move were given yesterday when President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua received visiting President of Finland, Mrs. Tarja Halonen, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Halonen advocated strong collaboration between Africa and Europe, instead of the prevailing ties between individual countries of the two blocs.
Senate President David Mark, who also received Halonen, sought increased international co-operation to combat trans-national crimes, which he noted, were posing a threat to the global economy.
According to him, only collective efforts would yield the desired result since the efforts made by individual nations had failed.
Also yesterday, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, called on the Finnish government to collaborate with Nigeria in telecommunications and other sectors of the economy.
Yar'Adua used the occasion to give more insight into the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta. He said it was done to accelerate the rate of development of the region.
The President explained that it was "just like we have the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) because the federal capital of the nation has to be developed. Now, the last federal capital we had before it was moved was Lagos. When Lagos was the capital, there was a Federal Ministry of Lagos Affairs. And that is why this administration established a Ministry for the Niger Delta region so that more resources outside the normal distribution and budget can be pumped for the development of the region. And the ministry and government can now focus on the development of the region.
So, this is the reason why we set up the ministry. And I am sure this strategy is bound to work just like it has worked in developing the former federal capital and the current federal capital. Now, it will take some time because the Niger Delta is the most difficult region to develop in terms of infrastructure. But with the establishment of the ministry, I have no doubt in my mind that it will work."
On arrival at the Presidential Villa, Halonen inspected a guard of honour mounted by troops of the Brigade of Guards.
The Finnish leader, who came with a 14-member delegation, was accompanied by her husband, Dr. Pentti ArajŠrvi. Halonen, who said that it was only at the regional level that issues on the environment could be better tackled, said that her government was looking forward to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan's visit to Finland in spring.
She said: "We want to develop bilateral issues further. Finland will receive the Vice President of Nigeria in spring and we have also discussed not just the possibility of business relations but also international security in crisis management and all this is what we have expertise in. The subject that is of interest to both of us is that of the environmental. We want to know what exists in both countries and how we could use the know-how to meet the needs in order to solve them."
Halonen then told journalists of her expectations on the visit, which she said, "are in three dimensions: the first is a political one because I think not just Finland and Nigeria but Europe and Africa should work more together in other to tackle the global challenges, peace, development and also environmental issues. You are a very strong country not only in this region but also in Africa and we need to concretise this with you.
"The second point is that we are also interested in trade, which is beneficial to both countries. We have also spoken about globalisation and financial institutions and what we can both do about them. But we are interested in bilateral relations and we are not so backward in new technologies. The third point is what kind of information we can receive from Nigeria? This is my very first visit to Nigeria. So, I need to know more about your men, women, your challenges."
Yar'Adua said that Europe, especially Finland, had a lot to gain from Nigeria, especially in the area of gas. He said: "We have discussed with President Halonen on the kind of opportunities that Nigeria presents to Finland, especially in the energy sector. Finland has developed renewable energy and it has also excelled in tackling the problems of pollution and environment. And these are problems and issues that Nigeria presents itself for investment in these areas. One of the greatest challenges Nigeria has today is in power and energy sector and this presents a great opportunity for Finland and indeed other investors from the European Union (EU) to take the opportunity that abound. Also we are reforming the oil and gas sector. The gas sector in Nigeria is not yet developed. Nigeria is more of a gas nation than an oil nation. At least, we have about 186 trillion cubic feet of reserves in terms of gas and this presents great opportunity for investments.
"In fact, we are together with Algeria promoting a trans-Saharan gas pipeline project that will run from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria through the Sahara to Algeria across the Mediterranean to Europe. We are working together on the design and as soon as we conclude that, we will market this project and this provides a great opportunity for Finland and indeed Europe to have access to gas apart from the gas from Russia", Yar'Adua said.
