Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said the Federal Government was committed to maintaining bilateral relations on Defence with France.
He stated this when he received the outgoing Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann and her delegation at the Ship House in Abuja.
In a statement by the Director of Information, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Henshaw Ogubike on Wednesday, the minister said Nigeria was ready to build on the existing relationship with France.
The statement said: “Nigeria is ready to build on the existing relationship between the two countries.
“The training and technology transfer would further strengthen the bilateral relations both countries have shared.”
While appreciating the outgoing Ambassador for the cordial relationship with Nigeria, he said both countries are strategic partners and promised to further strengthen it to higher levels of operations.
Earlier, the Ambassador, Emmanuelle Blatmann commended the Nigerian Government for its warm gesture, love, and trust towards her.
In addition, the Ambassador said there was a need to develop cooperation in intelligence sharing between the two countries in the fight against extremism, terror movement and regional insecurity.
Mrs. Blatmann said she has been appointed the Head of African and Indian Ocean at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in France promising that France will cooperate more with Nigeria to deepen its defence relationship with Nigeria.