The Nigerian High Commissioner H.E Adamu A. Abbas after precisely three years three months in office called on President Ernest Bai Koroma yesterday (October 4) to take leave of the president at the end of his tour of duty in Sierra Leone as Nigeria’s High Commissioner.
Ambassador Abbas told the President that the friendship between the two countries has been cemented.
He promised that he will always regard Sierra Leone as his second home.
The Ambassador congratulated the President on his appointment and pointed out that the peaceful and successful conduct of the general elections confirmed that the people of Sierra Leone want peace.
He noted that since peace is the prerequisite for development, the focus now will be on development.
Ambassador Abbas assured President Koroma that as a sister member country of ECOWAS, Nigeria stands ready to cooperate with Sierra Leone in its reconstruction and development efforts.
He said that as he leaves the shores of Sierra Leone for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja he is convinced that both countries need each other and that they should cooperate with one another and always have a common stand on matters of common interest particularly with regard to the objectives of peace, political stability, security and development within the West African Sub-region.
In his response President Koroma said that Sierra Leone will miss the person and the services of Ambassador Abbas and that he should continue to act as Ambassador for Sierra Leone wherever he finds himself.
He expressed gratitude to Nigeria for the support in times of the country’s crisis and stated that Nigeria has never failed Sierra Leone.
The President also announced that he is looking forward to visiting Nigeria in the very near future to discuss with President Yar Adua as there is much to be achieved with Nigeria and Sierra Leone working together.
Ambassador Abbas assumed office as High Commissioner of Nigeria to Sierra Leone in May 2004 and after three years three months, he is returning to the Foreign Ministry in Abuja as the Director of the International Cooperation Department.
Mr Dan Wari Nwazim, the Minister (Political) who accompanied the Ambassador to State House together with Head of Chancery Mr M Bambale will be the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Sierra Leone.