Our Visit Would Provide Nigeria Opportunity for More EU Interventions- COAFR

Our Visit Would Provide Nigeria Opportunity for More EU Interventions- COAFR

By: Michael Mike

The Chairperson of the Council of European Union’s Africa Working Party (COAFR), Ms. Yamina Guerfi has explained that the visit of the team to Nigeria would present the host country an opportunity at the round table were appraisal of European interventions would be made.

Guerfi who spoke to journalists during the hosting of the team by the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria and Rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Pieter Leenknegt, in Abuja on Monday evening, said the country may benefit from further interventions after the appraisal.

She said the choice of Nigeria for the visit was easy as the country just transit into a new administration and the administration has further shown interest in attracting foreign investment.

She also noted that Nigeria as the largest democracy and economy in Africa is a natural attraction to everyone and as such appealing to European Union.

Guerfi noted that slated during the visit are discussions with many facets of Nigerian communities, business, government and civil societies.

Speaking on the visit of the team to Nigeria, the Belgian Ambassador said: “The good news is that the 17 EU Member States diplomats and the 6 eurocrats in the visiting COAFR delegation have chosen Nigeria among the 49 sub-Saharan African countries they could in theory have visited on their annual trip.

“Of course, our Nigerian guests tonight will only find this natural, as theirs is the economically biggest and most populous African nation. Yet, as we all know from the Eurovision Song Festival, in beauty contests between countries there is often more than meets the eye, so kudos to Nigeria and to our dear EU Ambassador Samuela Isopi for having lobbied the COAFR troops so well, and for having made the final cut !

“Our COAFR delegates come at a significant moment for this country : of bold reforms and economic hardship, and in a challenged sub-region.”

Our Visit Would Provide Nigeria Opportunity for More EU Interventions- COAFR