The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), has reassured Nigerians living in Angola of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security and tackling threats linked to insecurity and instability across the Sahel region.
Musa gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The meeting was coordinated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa. The Nigerian delegation to the African Union summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at the engagement, Musa acknowledged the security challenges facing Nigeria, noting that instability in the Sahel region had contributed to threats spilling across national borders. He said the Federal Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen border security and prevent external incursions.
The Defence Minister added that the Tinubu administration remained committed to confronting security threats across the country, with efforts underway to increase the manpower, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Also speaking, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigeria’s economy was growing and the country was on the path to full economic recovery.
Tunji-Ojo also responded to requests for a Nigerian passport production centre in Angola, assuring the community that he would look into the proposal to ease access to passport booklets and other consular services.
Dabiri-Erewa commended Nigerians in Angola for their contributions to national development and for projecting a positive image of the country abroad. She assured them that the Federal Government valued the welfare and concerns of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
She urged members of the community to remain united, law-abiding and committed to contributing positively to the development of Nigeria and their host country.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community, the Secretary of the Nigeria Community Association in Angola, Nnaemeka Francis Obi, commended the Federal Government delegation for the engagement and highlighted several challenges confronting Nigerians in the country.
Obi called for the establishment of a Nigerian passport office in Angola, improved access to healthcare services and the introduction of direct flights between Nigeria and Angola operated by a Nigerian airline.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Federal Government delegation to hear directly from Nigerians in Angola and reaffirm its commitment to strengthening Diaspora engagement and addressing issues affecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians living abroad.
