Nigeria celebrates Independence Day - Nationals advised to be law-abiding
Nigerians living in Ghana and abroad have been advised to uphold their country's good image by being law-abiding and contributing positively to the development of their host societies.
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ifedayo Moses Adeoyo, admonished them to "be ambassadors of values of resilience, hard work and unity that define us as Nigerians".
He said while the federal government of Nigeria remained steadfast in defending the interests of Nigerians abroad, it was important they also abided by the rules and regulations of their host nations.
He gave the advice at the 65th Independence Day celebration of Nigeria at his residence in Accra last Wednesday. Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1,1960.
The event, which was graced by showers of blessings throughout the evening, was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers and Nigerians resident in Ghana.
The guests were treated to cultural displays, Nigerian delicacies, including jollof, and a documentary on Nigeria.
Remember home
Mr Adeoyo urged Nigerians not to forget their roots, and that the country’s most valuable asset was its people, who he said, had excelled in every facet of development, such as academia, business, innovation, arts, entertainment and culture.
On the long-standing relationship between Ghana and Nigeria, the ambassador said the two countries had a sustained kinship rooted in shared language, music, art and enterprise.
He said those camaraderies manifested daily in trade corridors, investment, education and people-to-people exchanges.
Support
On significant contributions Nigeria had made to support Ghana, Mr Adeoyo mentioned Nigeria’s commitment to supply gas to Ghana, which initiative he said formed part of a broader effort to combat energy poverty and promote economic growth in the West Africa region.
The ambassador said the West African Gas Pipeline, which connected Nigeria to Ghana through Benin and Togo, played a vital role in that partnership.
On security, he said the collaboration between the two countries in information sharing and joint efforts had strengthened regional safety and helped curb crime across borders.
“Through intelligence exchanges, coordinated investigations, and shared best practices in border security and law enforcement, our nations have improved situational awareness, disrupted illicit networks, and enhanced the safety and security of our citizens and businesses,” the ambassador added.
He also touched on progress made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, and mentioned economic reforms, foreign exchange stability, reserve aggression prioritisation, and crude oil production, as some of the sectors the government was pursuing to improve lives.
Trade
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said Ghana’s exports to Nigeria grew from $79 million to $160 over five years, while Nigeria exported goods worth $162 million to Ghana within the same period, signifying a relationship of mutual economic benefit.
He said as nations endowed with abundant natural resources, collaborations in the mining sector had been vital to ensure that local communities reaped the full benefits of the extraction of those natural resources.
Mr Buah also mentioned the long-standing friendly rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, saying, “even in the creative arts, our industries are beautifully and brilliantly intertwined.
From the chart-topping collaborations of our musicians to the compelling stories told by our film industries, Ghana and Nigeria continue to set the cultural tempo that captivates audiences on the African continent and on the international stage”.
