By Kassim Omomia
The Nigerian Government and the Republic of Korea are engaging more in areas of defense cooperation aimed at mitigating the Africa country’s worsening insecurity.
The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs which is pushing for closer ties with Asia country stated when the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Mr. Kim Young Chae, visited the Committee in Abuja.
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Rt.Hon.( Dr.) Yusuf Buba Yakub noted that Nigeria will continue to engage with the Republic of Korea to strengthen their defense cooperation and mitigate Nigeria’s security challenges, especially in the current campaign against insurgency in the Northeast and the continuous threats to sea travel around the Gulf of Guinea.
Hon. Yakub said the House of Representatives would ensure that bilateral trade between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea surpasses the level it was in 2018 while commending Korea for establishing five Agencies of Government, among which are, the Embassy, Cultural and Trade Centres, the Consulate in Lagos and the building of several other edifices and social infrastructure across the country through which the Embassy continues to impact the lives of Nigerians.
While promising to engage more with the Koreans, the lawmaker welcomed every effort aimed at realizing strong inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, stressing that such co-operation when fully harnessed would enrich the law-making processes of the Parliaments of both countries and consummate Treaties and Memoranda signed by the two countries’ Executives.
Earlier, in his remarks Ambassador, Kim Young Chae, described Nigeria as an important country to the Republic of Korea for a variety of reasons.
He said Nigeria remains the 4th highest trading partner with their country and had in the past enjoyed a trading volume of over 2 Billion US Dollars with the Asian nation, which also imports Oil, Gas, and other products from Nigeria.
He listed popular brands like Samsung, LG, and other electronic products, including auto products like KIA and Daewo, as all made- in- Korea products patronised by Nigerians
While suing for closer ties in all areas of life between Nigeria and Korea, Ambassador Chae recounted the many laudable efforts through which his country has sought to promote soft power using culture, sports, food, infrastructural development, and others.
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He, however, called on the lawmakers and other politicians to visit Korea and engage with their professional colleagues.
According to him, the exchange of visits between the Nigerian Navy and some Defence personnel in his country will soon lead to a deal for the building and sale of ships to Nigeria.
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