Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has commended the Nigerian community in Kuwait for their exceptional behaviour in projecting the good image of Nigeria.
The Vice President made the commendation when he met with Nigerians living in Kuwait as part of his engagements at the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit holding in that country.
Vice President Sambo expressed delight with the confidence the Kuwaiti citizens have placed on Nigerian professionals, urging them to continue to project the positive image of the country in their character and conduct, saying “I want to thank you for the high level of professionalism you are displaying in your conduct, which made the communities to have confidence in you. This has created another avenue for rebranding Nigeria, and we thank you very much for that.”
He assured them that government was doing everything possible to ease and fast track consular services particularly in the areas of renewal of passports. He also assured them that during discussions with Kuwaiti officials Nigeria will table the issue regarding frequent request for medical reports for renewal of residency permits.
Vice President Sambo enjoined them to tap from the huge potentials of Nigeria,stressing that through the Transformation Agenda, the President Jonathan administration was revitalising the Nigeria economy through concerted efforts in providing adequate power supply, healthcare services, access to financing, ease in land acquisition, education, transportation; providing good governance and adequate security to the citizenry among others.
The Vice President stated that the ongoing biometric data capture of Nigerians being conducted by the Nigeria Identity Management Commission would facilitate diaspora voting, he enjoined them to key into it.
Speaking on the Academic Staff Union of Universities strike action, Sambo, after calling for a one minute silence for the repose of the soul of the late former president of ASUU, Professor Festus Iyayi, expressed sadness over the unfortunate labour action.
Accordingly, with the different shades of information going round regarding the issues surrounding the strike action the Vice President extensively took time to intimate the Nigerian community on the issues that led to the strike and the efforts and concessions that government was making to bring it to an end.
He expressed optimism that with the determination of President Jonathan to permanently end strikes in the country and with the various meetings held with the ASUU leadership , the labour action would soon come to an end.
Responding on the issues of salaries of political office holders the Vice President noted that with the efforts being put in place to raise the living standards of all Nigerians, irrespective of their status, Nigerians would soon experience better living conditions.
He said the “President Jonathan administration is arranging properly the resources that will push the country forward, and the reason is that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is ensuring that we have good governance, transparency,and the rule of law. Good governance, is the key, that will push the country forward.”
The Nigerian community, in their presentation as put forward by Engr. Joe Eneh, requested the Federal Government to provide an e-passport machine to ease passport renewal. They also used the opportunity to urge for intervention in the issue regarding frequent request of medical test for residency renewal.
The community implored the Federal Government and ASUU to urgently resolve their differences and bring the strike to an end. They also requested for engagement of Nigerians living in Kuwait in government.
They further called for the downward review of the salaries of political office holders; however with the explanation of the Vice President they expressed optimism that the review was not necessary.
Similarly, they expressed high hopes that the coming of the Vice President would improve and impact positively on the relations between Nigeria and Kuwait, noting that the community with about 500 members are mostly fully employed, highly qualified professionals who enjoy high reputation, stressing that many Kuwaitis prefer to wait and be attended by Nigerian doctors than by other nationalities. They assured that they will continue to keep the Nigerian flag flying high.
Present at the event were Senator, Mohammed Magoro, Chairman Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Special Adviser to the Vice President on Special Duties, Senator Isaiah Balat and several other Nigerian government functionaries among several Nigerians in living in Kuwait.
