President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday was full of kind words for the oil rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying they have been making sacrifices by reducing production to accommodate us a number of times.
Buhari who spoke on Tuesday while receiving the Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud, at State House, Abuja said Saudi Arabia has been quite kind to Nigeria.
The president said with Nigeria’s large population and infrastructural deficit, the country needed all the revenue she could get from oil, a mainstay of the economy, “and Saudi Arabia has been very kind to us, making sacrifices by reducing production to accommodate us a number of times.”
Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the relationship between the two countries was very strong “and dates back in time, both at the personal and national levels.”
“It is long and steadfast,” the President added.
Prince Al-Saud, who brought greetings from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, said the Kingdom appreciated the relationship with Nigeria, “which dates back 61 years, and we want to strengthen it even further.”
The two countries, he said, have good prospects both economically and politically, not just among the leaders, but also the people.
“There’s still a lot we can do together,” the Prince submitted.
Speaking later after a meeting with Nigerian counterpart, the Saudi Prince said his country shares a very strong bond and friendship with Nigeria and they are ready to build and strengthen the relationship.
He also stressed that his country would want to see more collaborations with Nigeria, especially in areas of trade.
Speaking, after a closed door meeting with the visiting Saudi prince, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs, said both countries are keen to increase trade relations.
He also revealed a forum that would allow for interaction among businessmen from both countries so as to explore areas of trade.
Onyeama also stressed the need for both countries to work together to address security challenges; saying we can achieve great things together.
