Presidential hopeful looks forward to deepening Sierra Leone/Nigeria relations

Presidential hopeful looks forward to deepening Sierra Leone/Nigeria relations

NAN-H-40
Relations
By Chioma Ugboma
Lagos, Jan. 17, 2018 (NAN) Dr. Samura Kamara, a candidate in the upcoming presidential election in Sierra Leone, on Wednesday pledged to expand and deepen the bilateral relations between his country and Nigeria if elected.

Kamura, who is contesting on the platform of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) in Sierra Leone, made the pledge in  at a chat with newsmen at the Eko Hotels in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential election in Sierra Leone is billed for March 7.

Kamura, who was responding to questions on African unity and xenophobic killings, said that his administration would step up efforts to close any gaps that may engender conflicts between Sierra Leone and other African nation.

He said that if elected, his administration would continue to spur policies that would support Nigerian and other interests and grow them into investments for a stronger financial sector in Sierra Leone.

“More than three quarters of banks in Sierra Leone are Nigerian banks. We have other investments by private Nigerians. We have covered a lot of ground in sustaining peace and security and will continue to build on that,’’ he said.

Kamara said that the major challenge faced in the ECOWAS sub-region was low level of trade amongst member nations.

He said that the intra trade relations was very low at about 12 per cent, and urged member nations to reduce intra regional constraints and barriers to trade, so as to grow the region.

The presidential candidate said Africa must stand up to the challenges of xenophobia, terrorism and radical extremism, and must seek ways to finding lasting solutions to them.

He said that if elected, he would build on the achievements of the present administration in infrastructure, energy, roads and diversifying of agriculture, among others.

“We also intend to fill some gaps that will combat corruption and high sense of lawlessness as well as encourage dedication to nationhood and nation building in the Sierra Leonean people.

NAN recalls that Sierra Leonean President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, in December 2017, unveiled Kamara as the candidate of the APC. (NAN)
CHOM/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle