Nigeria making progress on security challenges – Jonathan

By Ben Agande
Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigeria has made significant progress in meeting the country’s security challenges.

President Jonathan was speaking to the new Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Mr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, after he presented his letters of credence at State House, Thursday.

He said: “We are making significant progress in meeting our recent security challenges and we shall continue to improve, so investors have nothing to fear.”

The President, who received three other ambassadors at different ceremonies, urged the new ambassadors to encourage more business delegations from their countries to visit the country.

He said: “Nigeria is a huge market, with many green areas waiting for investors. I urge you to prepare the ground for more robust economic relations between our two countries.”

Jonathan told the new Egyptian Ambassador, Mr. Ashraf Abdelkader Elmorsi Salama that the two countries had a crucial role to play in the African Union, especially because of their strategic locations and population.

The new Ambassadors told the President that they were impressed by the vast opportunities in Nigeria, and expressed their determination and commitment to improving trade and other mutually beneficial relations with Nigeria.

The other new Ambassadors are Mr. Svante Kilander of Sweden and Dr. Joachim Oppinger of Austria.