Lawan seeks parliamentary ties with South Korea

President of the Nigeria Senate, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan Wednesday advocated for collaboration between Nigeria, Turkey and South Korea on parliamentary engagements and also in the areas of economy and technology.

He made the call while receiving Turkish Ambassador, Hidayet Bayraktar and South Korea, Kim Young-Chae in audience in his office in Abuja.

Lawan urged implementation of various agreements Turkey and Nigeria signed when Turkish President visited Nigeria last month.

The Senate President told his first guest the Ambassador of Turkey, that the National Assembly, particularly the Senate “will be glad to have a parliamentary relationship with the Turkish Grand Parliament.

“Whatever we do at the executive level and I know so many agreements were signed the last time the President was here.

He said Nigeria’s National Assembly could help in activating agreements through legislation for better and enduring arrangement that will stand the test of time, adding that the relationship between the two parliaments of Nigeria and Turkey was important.

Lawan disclosed that a Senate Nigeria/Turkey Parliament Friendship Group has been introduced and they were working to commence activities.

“So with this visit, I want to tell you clearly that we are ready as a parliament to engage with our colleagues in Turkey and convey our message to the Speaker of the Grand Parliament of Turkey that the Senate particularly is also willing to share experience with them and we are prepared to exchange visits so that we benefit from each other.”

Earlier, the Turkish Ambassador told the Senate President that “during our President’s visit, the thing that we have noticed is that the parliamentary dimension of our relationship is not too strong.

“We are trying to intensify relationship in that field.”

Also speaking to the Ambassador of South Korea, the Senate President applauded the relationship between Nigeria and South Korea.

“The relationship between South Korea and Nigeria can only be better. The growing trade relationship is commendable but we need to improve on it so that we can benefit from your technological advancement in agriculture sector particularly”, he said.