David Lammy MP, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, having agreed on a Strategic Partnership that will elevate the bilateral relationship between the UK and Nigeria.
The Strategic Partnership was signed by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and Foreign Secretary David Lammy and will serve as a framework for the UK and Nigeria to advance cooperation on a range of priority issues, including economic growth, foreign policy and security.
The Strategic Partnership also confirms a commitment between the two governments to hold a Nigeria-UK Bi-National Commission, which will provide a vehicle to assess the Strategic Partnership and discuss issues of high mutual importance.
The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:
“Nigeria is the first country I have visited in Africa as Foreign Secretary because our relationship is important and there are exciting opportunities to strengthen it further.
“I am delighted to have agreed today a new Nigeria-UK Strategic Partnership. This is an overarching framework covering the breadth of what we do together from growth and jobs to national security, tackling the climate and nature crisis to strengthening our people-to-people ties.”
The Foreign Secretary also met Wale Edun, the minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Yemi Cardoso, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to discuss UK support for Nigeria’s economic reforms and mutual economic growth opportunities.
During his visit, the Foreign Secretary initiated a package of support for Nigeria’s economic reforms through three pillars of the UK Centre of Expertise on Public Finance.
The collaboration between Nigerian and UK institutions who are sharing technical knowledge on critical reforms will support use of evidence in tax policy formulation, help raise tax revenues in line with government’s objectives and improve public financial management systems so that revenues are used effectively.
In Lagos, the Foreign Secretary also announced plans by StemaCo a (UK company) to expand its investment and deliver smart metering solutions, support key national energy initiatives and accelerate the development of smart metering in Nigeria.
The solution will deliver through a strategic merger with Shyft Power Solutions, and backed by a seven-figure investment led by Equator VC.
