Akume called on the British government to assist the Federal Government to curb Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, and farmers-herders clashes as they did during Nigeria’s civil war.
Recalling the age-long colonial relationship between UK and Nigeria, he said it has become necessary that both countries work together for the mutual benefit of both countries.
The SGF disclosed this when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery in his office.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information OSGF, Willie Bassey on Thursday.
The statement partly read, “We want to make a difference in the lives of our people. We are not after money, we are after infrastructure, we are after food security, and we are after energy. We believe with your support we should go further than this. We also have nine mandate areas. Honestly, by the time you support us, it is mutual, you will be surprised that the relationship will soar to greater heights”.
Senator Akume also said that with the historical ties between the British Government and the Federal Government, he stresed the need to deepen the bilateral relationship to support Nigeria also in the area of education, provision of education, and health, amongst others.
Speaking earlier, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery congratulated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also commended the present administration for taking bold reforms in repositioning the economy, which has placed the country on a pedestal of sustainable economic growth.
He said that the essence of their visit was to get acquainted with the key priority areas of the Federal Government to enable the UK government to tailor its support in line with its needs.
He noted that the UK Government, through the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office and Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn will continue to collaborate with Nigeria with the ongoing programmes- the CDCU (Central Delivery Coordination Unit), Ministerial Retreat as well as the Community of Practice to Secretaries to the State Governments in the country.
He pledged to consolidate the gains of the existing bilateral relations and make further inroads into other areas to promote and stabilise Nigeria’s democracy.
