Nigeria, Pakistan sign MoUs on defence, counter-terrorism, others

Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have entered into an agreement to boost cooperation between them, especially in the areas of defence and counter terrorism strategies to combat terrorism bedeviling the two countries.
At the end of bilateral talks between Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and visiting Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan, the two leaders resolved that such cooperation was necessary to combat the terrorism threat.
President Hussain, who spoke with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Jonathan, said they discussed issues bordering on trade, energy, education, agriculture, oil and gas, defence and counter terrorism.
According to the Pakistani leader, the two countries agreed on the need to strengthen existing cooperation between the two countries in that regard.
He disclosed that his country had extended an invitation to Jonathan to pay a state visit to Pakistan to concretise the agreements reached between the two countries.
President Jonathan described Hussain’s visit as significant because of the common problem of terrorism, especially for Nigeria which is battling to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State.
The President said: “This is the first ever state visit by any Pakistani president and that is why we consider this visit extremely important.
“We have just had bilateral discussions in the course of which we examined issues of common interest. This is quite significant because Nigeria and Pakistan are experiencing terror attacks.”
President Jonathan regretted that despite long standing relations between the two countries, trade has been extremely low.
He said: “Our target in the next five years or so, is to move from under $100 million to at least $1 billion. We are now out to encourage more robust trade relations.”
Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, had earlier read a press statement on the meeting between the two leaders in which he disclosed that some Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, were signed during the parley.
The bilateral agreements and MoUs, according to the minister, included those on agricultural development, industrial cooperation, cultural exchanges and trade/chambers of commerce,  narcotics, anti terrorism/security, poverty reduction and human capacity development among others.