UK to help Nigeria overcome economic, security challenges

The United Kingdom plans to assist Nigeria overcome its current economic and security challenges, UK Minister for International Development, James Wharton, has said.

Wharton told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja that he was in Nigeria to assess some of the definite challenges.

He described Nigeria as a country with great potential in human and natural resources as well as opportunities to overcome the current challenges.

“This is clearly a country with incredible opportunity with amazing people, with a real deep, strong link and friendship with United Kingdom but which faces challenges,” he said.

“The Government of the United Kingdom must help Nigeria to overcome some of the challenges in the overall interest of the people of Nigeria and the UK.

“There are security and humanitarian issues in the North-East, there are clearly economic challenges, the price of oil hasn’t helped.”

Wharton noted that there were institutional challenges which UK would be able to help and strengthen institutions of government and the civil society.

“We want to be very clear that the UK recognises the scale of the challenges and is committed to supporting Nigeria through what is a very significantly very difficult period.

“But I have no doubt that Nigeria has a very bright and positive future and the UK has a role to play in that,” he said.

He said UK spends nearly 500 million pounds annually in support of Nigeria, from technical assistance, strengthening of institutions to security assistance in the North-East.

The UK minister said he was in Nigeria to ensure that the UK aid was well spent to make a difference to the lives of Nigerian people.

Wharton said London was monitoring the situation in the Niger Delta and the negative impact on the economy of Nigeria and the communities that were directly affected.

“It is clearly a very difficult situation and we will work very closely, we will continue to have talks, discussions with those who are currently trying to address the challenges.

“It is important things are done in the right ways and support is planned in the right way and delivered very appropriately.”

Wharton, who is on a three-day official visit to Nigeria, also said that his country was committed to the anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.