THE President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Tinubu, 51 days after he was declared winner of the February 25 Presidential Election.
Tinubu, who contested under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 8,794,726 votes to win the election. His closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), got 6,984,520 votes.
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Zelensky also invited Tinubu to Ukraine for a state visit, according to a statement released by Tinubu’s spokesperson Tunde Rahman, on Thursday, April 20.
The Ukraine leader, according to the statement, said his country was ready to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria at the bilateral level, despite its ongoing war with Russia.
Zelensky was quoted as saying that the proposed visit would contribute to consolidating joint efforts of the international community towards food security.
“I invite you to pay an official visit to Ukraine at a time convenient for you. I am confident that your visit will strengthen the dialogue between our countries and contribute to the further consolidation of joint efforts of the international community aimed at solving the urgent challenges of today, in particular the crisis situation caused by Russia regarding the guarantee of world food security,” Zelensky said.
He also appreciated Nigeria’s support for the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation ‘Principles of the UN Charter’ underlying a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
“I count on the active participation of Nigeria in its practical implementation. We see the further provision of global food security, of which Ukraine was and remains a reliable guarantor at the global level, as an important direction of cooperation,” Zelensky added.
Highlights of the manifesto of the incoming government dubbed “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a Better Nigeria” include an enlightened agricultural policy that promotes productivity and assures decent incomes for citizens, especially those in rural communities.
A report published by The ICIR in May 22 noted that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was a threat to food security in Nigeria.
The report identified the sharp increase in the cost of a loaf of bread as one of the effects of the Russia/Ukraine war on the Nigerian economy.
The ICIR equally reported that European Union (EU) Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on food security will potentially have “dramatic consequences” for African countries that rely on grain imports.
Speaking during an official visit to Bucharest, Romania, Gentiloni said food security would not be an issue in Europe, which is struggling with high inflation rather than low food supplies.
According to the EU commissioner, many parts of Africa, particularly the Horn of Africa, are expected to feel the tremors of the intensifying crisis in Ukraine, especially as the prices of food, oils and fertiliser rise.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and Nigeria was among 141 nations that voted in support of a United Nations resolution that condemned Russia’s action.