MONROVIA, January 9 (LINA) - The Government of Nigeria has committed additional US$1.5 to help Liberia intensify its fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.
This was disclosed Thursday by Nigerian Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Chigozie Ngozie Obi-Nnadozie, when she paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
Ambassador Obi-Nnadozie said the latest donation to Liberia was approved by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as a gesture of solidarity to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Liberian people and also in recognition of the long-standing traditional ties between both countries.
Ambassador Obi-Nnadozie stressed that Nigeria remains committed to ensuring sub-regional and continental peace, security and social stability and has found Liberia a willing and capable ally in this noble pursuit.
She disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan on behalf of Nigeria is disposed to consolidating fraternal bonds and good neighborliness with countries within the West African sub-region, adding “The solidarity is both in peace and in war times and also in disease and in health.”
In response, Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Government and People of Nigeria for the generous assistance toward Liberia’s Ebola response.
“Madam Ambassador, let me on behalf of Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Government and People of Liberia extend to the People of Nigeria warm and profound appreciation on behalf of the people of Liberia for yet another demonstration of solid partnership”, Ngafuan noted.
He pointed out that crisis has a way of separating ‘fair-weather friends’ from ‘all-weather friends’, noting that throughout the Ebola crisis Nigeria has proved to be one of Liberia’s ‘all-weather friends’.
Ngafuan recalled with appreciation Nigeria’s announcement of a US$ 500,000 donation to Liberia in July 2014, noting “President Goodluck Jonathan took a pioneering position in rallying significant financial and other forms of assistance from the International Community towards Liberia’s Ebola response.
LINA