‘We’re ever ready to partner with your country’ — Abbas hosts Swiss envoy

Abbas Tajudeen, speaker of the house of representatives, says the parliament is “eager” to strengthen the existing relationship between Nigeria and Switzerland. 

Abbas spoke on Wednesday when he hosted Nicholas Lang, the Swiss ambassador to Nigeria, in his office at the national assembly complex, Abuja.

The speaker said the parliament is “ever ready” to partner with Switzerland in “every way possible” – legislative, economic, social, and cultural.

“We are very ready. We are also particularly delighted and happy with all the messages you have rendered, particularly the bilateral issues: the extension of legislative and technical cooperation between your country and ours. We will be looking forward to it,” Abbas said.

The speaker asked the envoy to “continue to look at ways” his country can partner and collaborate with Nigeria.

“We are eager to learn. We are eager to come together and partner with you in every way possible so that our legislatures will be strengthened, our economies will be strengthened and our cultural ties will be strengthened.”

The speaker expressed delight that Swiss companies are operating in Nigeria, noting that the country is a major supplier of crude oil to the European nation.

“It is a good beginning and I think we can build on that. We can do much more. There are so many things that we can be able to benefit from your country, while there are also many aspects that Nigeria can also be able to contribute to Switzerland,” he said.

“Let us put on our thinking caps and see how we can be able to consolidate on the already successful relationship that we have. We, here, are very willing and ready to support any initiative from the Swiss government on how to strengthen our legislatures and all other sectors. Thank you so much for the visit and we look forward to more mutually-beneficial interactions with you.”

In his remarks, Lang said it is important for Nigeria to have stronger ties with Switzerland, adding that both countries stand to benefit.

“The idea is to strengthen our relationships and that, of course, goes for all institutions, not only the executive but very much also the parliament – the senate on the one hand and the house of representatives on the other hand,” he said.