By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Minister of State for Defence, House of Lords United Kingdom, Lord Vernon Coaker has said that United Kingdom see Nigeria as a partner in tackling some of the challenges confronting the country.
He also assured of continuous security support and personnel training in addition to operational facilities support , saying,” we’ve been really pleased to be able to support you in the fight.
” I say to everyone wherever I go, but across the world, not just in West Africa, but we talk about West Africa. Your conflict, your security, is our conflict and our security.”
Lord Coaker stated this on Wednesday at the Theater Command, Operation Hadin Kai JTF North East Headquarters Maiduguri during his one day official to the Theater Command at Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri.
He added that, “It was a very moving experience, but it also demonstrated the closeness and the respect that the Nigerian military have for the British military, but also that the British military have for the Nigerian military.
“And that close relationship of equal parts is something which we should all celebrate and be thankful for. The General, the Government, His Majesty’s Government, still relatively new, wanted me to come to Nigeria very quickly and to say to you.
“As we said in Abuja with the Defence Minister and other senior parts of Government, that His Majesty’s Government regards Nigeria as extremely important in terms of our allies, our alliances, and our friendship.
“And together we stand for the rule of law, for the respect for borders, for democracy and human rights. And out of that, we will see the benefit for all of our populations, both the UK population and indeed the population of Nigeria.
“So we’re very grateful for that, and the occasion today celebrates the closeness of that relationship. So thank you again, General, for that. And again, I know when we were at Defence Headquarters yesterday, that was a similar view from all the senior officers there from every branch of the military,” Coaker said.
The UK House of Lords State Minister of Defence further explained that,” You mentioned some of the practical examples of that, as you tackle some of the terrorists that threaten aspects and parts of Nigeria, and the successful work that you’ve done and are doing to combat that threat….
“And we’ve been really pleased to be able to support you in that fight. I say to everyone wherever I go, but across the world, not just in West Africa, but we talk about West Africa. Your conflict, your security, is our conflict and our security.
“And we cannot divorce from each other conflicts in one area of the globe, or one area of the world, or one continent, because it impacts on all of us.
“So we’ve been really pleased to support and work with you in areas, General, that you mentioned and indeed we saw from the video clip. The provision of training, working with you. And can I just say to you, General, it’s not only you learning from us, but we learn from you.
“And I think that is an important principle for us to have. We know the importance of tackling IED, the indiscriminate use of IED by terrorists, not only against members of the Nigerian military, but some of the consequences that has for civilians.
“So we’re very pleased to have been able to work with you to support that program. I would wish to continue to help with you, with your agreement, if that is something that you would wish us to do.
“We are also very pleased to see other training taking place with members of the British military here, working with your soldiers, your military, in areas of training. To see how best different exercises can be undertaken, how best different tactics can be used.
“And, General, I have to say, training instructors to then leave here to be instructors themselves is a very successful project and something which works exceedingly well.
“And I know it’s something that has gone from strength to strength. Nigeria’s leadership, sometimes not without difficulty, within the NNJTF, and the work that you’ve done there and continue to do, some of that is challenging.
“But, General, you’ve worked exceedingly hard, I know, to maintain that. And I think, again, that is something which is of real importance. And we will continue to discuss with you how we continue to support that effort.
“Can I also say that we see Nigeria as a partner in tackling some of the challenges you face here. But, of course, Nigeria’s success in working with other countries, in general, you mentioned it in your remarks about the importance of working with other nations and with other countries.
“We see Nigeria as an important leader in the region of West Africa. And our strongest, most reliable partner, which we would wish to continue to celebrate with you here today.
“So it’s a great honour, a great privilege, and for me to be here as a representative of the government, my Prime Minister asked me to come to convey that message to all of you.
“And I finished with this point, General, and I said to you privately, it’s not only important for me to go to Abuja, not only important to meet government ministers there, of course that’s important.
“But it is also important for me to come out here with Defence Attaché and other members of his team to talk to those of you right on the front line of some of the challenges that we face.
“And say to your military and to you, General, how much we appreciate and understand and recognise and salute the work that you do.
” But also to see our own military personnel who are here to recognise the work that they do with you to meet that challenge. I finished, General, terrorism cannot win.
“Those who wish to undermine the rule of law, international treaties, borders, cannot be allowed to win. Countries like Nigeria and the UK need to continue to stand together as strongly as they have done in the past, as strongly as they are doing now.
“And we need to continue to do that in the future, to stand up for the values that we both hold. So on behalf of all of the British representatives,” Coaker said.
