The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, has pledged his country’s support to Nigeria in building an efficient internal security network.
The envoy made the pledge on Friday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a two-day leadership seminar on public safety and security organised by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS).
Symington stressed the need for peace for any meaningful development to occur in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“The success that all of you here seek to achieve together is not just important for your people, for your nation, for this continent but it is absolutely important for the United States.
“History, ties of family, education, principle and experience have joined together our two countries and it is my most profound wish that I seek to understand your country and to work together with all the wonderful people to advance this cause,” he said.
He charged participants at the seminar to forge better synergy in ensuring better security in Nigeria while also learning from the experiences of other countries.
Earlier, Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the seminar was an offshoot of a side discussion between the Ministry of Interior and the ACSS during the United Nations General Assembly held in New York in September.
He said the seminar would open vistas of opportunities for the Nigerian safety and security agencies including defence institutions and other stakeholders to exchange ideas.
He said that the Federal Government was committed to resolving the herdsmen/farmers crises, Niger Delta crises, Boko Haram issue and other security challenges in the country.
At least 50 Nigerian professionals and 10 officials including service chiefs from the Ministry of Interior and selected scholars attended the seminar.
The seminar is part of the Security Governance Initiative (SGI) unveiled by President Obama in August 2014 which is seeking to support Nigeria and five other African countries develop a comprehensive approach to improving security sector governance. (NAN)