Catriona Laing, the outgoing British High Commissioner in Nigeria, expressed her admiration for Nigeria’s politics and optimistic outlook for the future during a courtesy visit to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in Abuja on Tuesday. She noted that although there were setbacks in the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly election, it was a positive process overall, and Nigeria should be proud of its progress in democracy since she arrived in 2019.
Laing acknowledged that there were litigations surrounding the conduct of the election, but she described it as fascinating and an assurance for the country’s democratic governance in the future. She also commended the Nigerian people for their resilience in the face of difficulties such as insecurity and COVID-19.
During her tour as the British envoy, Laing said she made good friends and enjoyed Nigerian music, noting that the country’s culture was rich. She also praised Nigeria as the biggest democracy in Africa and stressed the importance of the world watching the country’s progress towards democracy. Furthermore, she observed that the election was different and fascinating as Nigeria moved towards a three or four-party system, adding that Nigerians should realize that their votes count.
In response, Senator Ahmad Lawan thanked the British envoy for her positive disposition to the country and requested her assistance in strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Britain, which have been cordial and diplomatic over the years. The President of the Senate believed that a high-rated diplomat like Laing could foster and strengthen the relationship between both countries.
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