BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru Tuesday said that Nigerians in Libya are safe and were not being harassed in the ongoing crisis to remove the country’s strong man Moammar Gaddaffi.

The minister made the clarification following insinuations that Nigerians and other Africans were been killed and harassed in Libya.

While fielding questions from newsmen during his ministry’s presentation in commemoration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 100 days in office, the minister stated that no Nigerian has lost his or her life in the country.

According to him, the decision Nigeria took to recognize the Libyan’s National Transitional Council, NTC, has ensured protection of Nigerians in Libya.

He said: “When I got the text message from Libya on the harassment of Nigerians, I called the Nigerian who told me that they were afraid that they would be harmed and I assured him that the NTC has our backings and will not harm them.

“I also called the NTC who gave me assurance that there was no plan to kill or harass any Nigerian in Libya. I also gave the NTC the Nigerians’ telephone number and he was assured that no harm will come to them.

“So I want to state here that no Nigerian has been harassed or killed in Libya. Because of our stand of recognizing the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people that were gaining ground there, Nigerians in Libya are being protected. over 40 countries have also backed the NTC,” he added

Stressing that Nigeria has made considerable achievements in its foreign policy, he said Nigeria took the right step in its foreign policy by taking a principled stand on the Cote d’Ivoire’s election that brought in Alhassane Ouattara, adding that even though the issue momentarily divided the African Union, AU, most of those against Nigeria on the matter have changed their minds.

The minister said: “The inauguration of President Allassane Ouattara was not just a success for Cote d’Ivoire and ECOWAS, but also for the African continent as a whole. The resolution of this crisis must, therefore, be seen by all as the beginning of the journey towards the consolidation of the democratic culture and good governance across Africa.

“Because our experience in West Africa points to the need to treat conflict in any one country as a regional challenge requiring a common response, the management of the crisis of political succession in Cote d’Ivoire holds great promise as a model for the future.”

Stressing that Nigeria has continued to earn more respect in the comity of nations for the successful conduct of the April 2011 elections in Nigeria, he said: “Apart from providing technical support for the electoral process in Benin Republic, our country has also been engaged with Liberian authorities to create a stable and peaceful environment for the conduct of general elections in that country later this year.”

“Towards this objective, Mr. President convened an extra-ordinary mini summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja on September 10, 2011 to discuss and take decisions to diffuse the volatile security situation along the Cote d’Ivoire – Liberia border.”

According to him, Nigeria’s good foreign policy also attracted the visits of heads of states to Nigeria including United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Ian Kama of Botswana, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai of Zimbabwe, Alhassane Ouatarra of Cote d’Ivoire and President Mahamaddou Issoufou of Niger Republic.

“Since the inauguration of the present Administration, Government has also been re-tooling our foreign policy to propel our economic and industrial programmes, particularly in employment generation, poverty reduction, energy and power generation and food security, among other national priorities.”

“Traditionally, our country has sought to promote its interests in the West African neighborhood through functional cooperation and economic integration under the framework of ECOWAS. This strategy is as valid ”

In the same vain,The Minister of Health Prof Onyebchi chukwu has said that to meets the National strategic health development plan (NSHDP) and its target of 2015, a total investment by all stakeholders of N4.1trillion will be required.

He said that between may 29, 2011 to date, the ministry has among other achievements distributed 3.5 million malaria rapid diagnostic test ticket.

Prof chukwu said that the transformational agenda of Mr President in the health sector is anchored on the National strategic health development plan (NSHDP) 2010-2015 which in turn was derived from the objectives of the Nigerian vision 20:2020.

He said that the NSHDP has 8 priority areas of focus,33 objectives and seventy interventions.

According to him, the NSHDP is a coasted plan jointly develop by all stakeholders in the sector, the federal government, state government, local governments, the private sector and our development partners.

He said that in the next one year, the ministry has planned to achieved among others upgrade national hospital abuja in to a quaternary facility and complete phase 11 FGN/VAMED upgrade of tertiary hospitals projects (6 HOSPITALS) and commencement of phase 11 FGN/VAMED (for 4 reaming leading hospitals).