The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has reiterated the commitment of the federal government to ensure the safety and security of the citizens through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices in the field of security with the Republic of Turkiye.
He made this known during the visit of the Turkiye Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Hidayat Bayraktar to the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The Minister acknowledged the challenges and complex security in the country noting that it is through collaborative efforts and shared experiences that they can effectively address them. Your visit serves as a testament to the importance that both our countries attach to our partnership and the desire to further enhance our cooperation for the mutual benefit of our nations. He stressed.
According to him, “Your visit served as a stepping stone towards greater collaboration, partnership, and friendship between Nigeria and the Republic of Turkiye. Let us work together, hand in hand, to create a safer, more prosperous future for our nations and our people”.
Gaidam said his visit would serve as a catalyst for greater cooperation and understanding and present a unique opportunity for us to explore avenues for collaboration in various areas of trade, security, education, and cultural exchange. One such area of immense importance is intelligence sharing and capacity building to combat transnational crimes.
He added that the Nigeria Police Force will require intervention in the area of procurement and use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for precise mapping surveillance and intelligence-led policing to combat ever-evolving terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crimes in the country.
The Minister opined that he would spare no effort in strengthening our bilateral relations, fostering greater understanding between both countries, and exploring new avenues for cooperation in various fields.
Together, we can build a more secure, prosperous, and interconnected future for our nations and our citizens.
Gaidam assured that Nigeria is fully committed to nurturing, protecting, and promoting the bond of friendship that exists between our two countries adding that the nation is blessed with diversity, resilience, and a vibrant culture.
Earlier, the Turkiye Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Hidayat Bayraktar pointed out that both countries have had a long-standing relationship since 1961 and the relationship has been improving.
He said both countries have done a lot in the security cooperation and law enforcement training. He assured the Minister of more cooperation in those areas in the future and will get back to the Ministry for further discussion.