By Adesuwa Tsan
365Daily – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has asked for increased partnership between Nigeria and Canada in the areas of security, cybersecurity, biosafety, energy and parliamentary diplomacy.
Calling for stronger diplomatic relationships between the two countries, Gbajabiamila expressed appreciation for the existing relationships between the two countries which led to a significant rise in trade, education, and technology over the years.
The Speaker made the call while hosting the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Simard, in his office on Friday, June 4, a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, stated.
“This is important because Nigeria and Canada go back a long way in terms of symbiotic and beneficial relationships.
“It is important that we sustain and continue these engagements to the benefit of our countries. As we know, the world is a global village now, and everybody feeds off everybody and we are all interdependent one way or the other,” Gbajabiamila was quoted as saying.
It added that the Speaker informed his guests that the National Assembly prioritizes certain issues, not only for the development of the country but also in conformity with global demands.
Furthermore, he added that the ”issue of security, gender parity, violence against persons, rape, in addition to the economy, are well articulated in the 9th House Legislative Agenda to help drive the attainment of the set goals of the Green Chamber.”
Lasisi said the Lawmaker noted that the House has taken bold steps to address the gender issue through legislative means, including the ongoing constitutional review exercise.
“Gender parity is an area that this 9th National Assembly, I think more than any past Assembly, focuses seriously on. We are not just talking, we are walking the talk,” he assured.
The Speaker, who noted that Nigeria is facing serious security challenges like other countries, said the assistance of Canada towards addressing it would be of benefit to both countries.
Earlier, the Canadian High Commissioner, Simard, informed the Speaker that the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries had resulted in more than $1 billion trade exchange between the two nations last year, while about $115 million per year in form of humanitarian and development assistance from Canada to Nigeria to several sectors has been given.
Simard also expressed Canada’s readiness for more robust engagement with Nigeria, while he inquired about how Nigeria is dealing with issues of women empowerment and inclusion as well as human rights situation and what steps the House was taking towards the issues.
The Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson; the Chairman Committee of Legislative Agenda Monitoring and Implementation, Hon. Henry Nwawuba; the Chairperson, Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Wunmi Onanuga, and the Chairman, Committee on Maritime Safety and Education, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu.