Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity has disclosed in an interview with Punch, says Russia’s decision comes after the Federal Government reached out to Russia for assistance in its fight against terrorism across Nigeria. While answering questions on whether the FG will comply with Russia’s condition that Nigeria should make a formal request, Abati said the issue had been properly dealt with during the just-concluded 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly which President Goodluck Jonathan attended in New York. The special adviser informed that the security challenges in Nigeria were one of the issues discussed when the foreign ministers of Nigeria and Russia met on the margins of the assembly.
Abati stated that one of the fallouts of the meeting was a pronouncement by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister that his country was ready and prepared to provide logistics and equipment support to the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies.“Nigeria and Russia had a strong relationship in the past. Both countries have a joint commission under the auspices of which they cooperate in various areas. “When the President went for the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Russian minister met on the margins of that assembly. “One of the issues they discussed was the security challenge in Nigeria. The Russian Foreign Minister told our own Minister of Foreign Affairs that Russia was ready and prepared to provide logistical and equipment support to the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies in executing the war against terrorism in Nigeria. “What I have told you is the latest action in that regard. The assurance was given by the Russian Foreign Minister. What I told you was the outcome of the meeting between the two top government officials of the two countries,”Abati stated.
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Meanwhile It would be recalled that about400 Nigerian security personnel departed to Russiafor training last week. lets just hope for the best.