Just In: France Pledges To Assist Nigeria Secure Trade Routes Along Pirate Threatened Gulf Of Guinea

The French Government has pledged to help Nigeria combat security threats hindering trades along the Gulf of Guinea route.

Frank Reister, the French Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness said this during a speech on Wednesday at the ongoing Nigerian International Partnership Forum in Paris.

The forum is a high level event on the occasion of ‘The Paris Peace Forum 2021’ organised by the Federal Government to foster trade relations with France.

Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have stepped up attacks on ships defying the Navy of the sub-region.

In January this year, pirates kidnapped 15 sailors from a Turkish container ship and killed one.

In 2020, there were 22 separate attacks in which over 130 seafarers were kidnapped.

In July this year, President Muhammadu Buhari said that Nigeria loses about $26.3bn annually particularly to piracy and sea robbery.

But the minister who spoke for his government said the French government is reinventing relations with Nigeria with special focus on the trade routes and stabilising the Sahel.

Reister said, “We aim at deeply reinventing the relationship between France and the African continent as a whole. What we want is to build a new partnership based on long term commitment, mutual benefit, sustainability and social responsibility.

“Nigeria of course holds a special place on the continent and in our strategy, because Nigeria is a land of promise and opportunity.

“We are all aware of Nigeria’s paramount role in Africa as the continent’s leading economic power and the most populous country.

“Nigeria is a power house in Africa especially West Africa that is why France needs to build ties and diverse corporations with your country.

“France and Nigeria share many strategic interests to the stability of the Sahel region and the safety of maritime trade routes of the Gulf of Guinea being two important examples and our countries are committed to deepening their corporations on these subjects.

“The Nigerian Navy participated in the Grand African NEMO organised by the French Navy. This cooperation underscores the great corporation potentials between both Navies.”

The French trade minister believes it is an honour to welcome the Nigerian delegation to the country’s capital, Paris.

He added, “Thankful for your warm words of welcome and I would like to thank you for choosing France to host the first edition of the Nigerian International Partnership Forum.

“Your presence in Paris today is greatly appreciated by the French government and President Emmanuel Macron who President Buhari will later meet.

“Nigeria and France also work together on global issues for instance when it comes to protecting the environment.”

Abdulsamaad Rabiu, the founder of BUA Group and the Chairman of the France Nigeria Investment Council in his presentationh said France has partnered with the country through investments in the different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Rabiu, who tasked the French government to upscale cooperation with Africa’s biggest economy said Nigerian states have also benefited from past and ongoing partnerships.

Rabiu said, “Have seen major partnerships between French and Nigerian businesses in the past few years. In different areas from hospitality, to manufacturing, telecoms, health care amongst many others.

“We have also seen partnerships at the National and sub national levels. Various state governments are benefiting from these partnerships with the support of the French development agency.”

Godfrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in an earlier remark expressed optimism that the maiden edition of the forum will woo the French government to massively invest in the Nigerian economy.

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