Nigeria Backs Canada On ICAO Headquarters

Nigeria has expressed support for Canada to retain the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, said that the Minister, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, gave the assurance in Abuja when he received the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter.

The Tide learnt that Qatar had been campaigning that the civil aviation headquarters be moved from Montreal to Doha.

The aviation body, a UN agency, had been based in Montreal since it was created in 1947.

Ashiru was quoted in the statement as saying that: “Nigeria will support Canada in the ICAO headquarters issue.

“Nigeria and Canada are strong strategic partners, who must always support each other.”

The statement also quoted Ashiru as thanking the Canadian government for donating 10 million dollars to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA).

On security, the minister assured the envoy that the Nigerian government would work hard to bring the perpetrators of the recent violence in Baga in Borno and Nasarawa to justice.