President Bola Tinubu and French Presidential envoy have ramp up measures for the repatriation of $150 million stolen from Nigeria by the former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha after he died in office 25 years ago.
The President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme — a Federal Government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.
In a statement on Friday, Ajurei Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity said the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria’s President, while Catherine Colonna, the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Tinubu, according to the statement, commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, noting that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.
“Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” the President told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news.
He emphasized the need to reinforce collaboration on both political and economic fronts, and welcome the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.
Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, stated that Nigeria is monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country, and exploring diplomatic channels to avoid bloodshed.
“Leadership is about responding to the needs of the people; their cries, and their frustrations. Nigeria shares a border with Niger across the expanse of seven Nigerian states, and most of these states are very populated. Therefore, I need to guide ECOWAS carefully and steadily so that we manage our anger carefully.
”We have a colleague and a democratically-elected leader, President Bazoum, being used as a human shield. If we are not careful, he and his family can be endangered.
”I am deploying all appropriate back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed in Niger Republic. We recognize the wishes of our people; they do not want war, but that does not mean we can not take bold and decisive action,” the President affirmed.
President Tinubu said Nigeria will continue to galvanize international partners in the determined pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger Republic.
The statement said the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.
She proceeded to extend a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.
Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy said the repatriation followed the completion of legal processes.
“It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement,” she said, “we support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all Countries, and democracy must be a reality.”
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