Press Releases

Fashola Calls For Closer Ties Among Nations
• As Mexico re-establishes ties with Nigeria

Apr 27, 2009 - Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday called for closer relationship among nations of the world just as the Mexican Government announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Nigeria.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa, while receiving the Ambassador of Mexico, Mr. Luis Alberto Barreso in his office, said as the world gets smaller and smaller as a result of increased globalization, there was need for world leaders and governments to share ideas and learn from one another for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

The Governor, who noted that there are a lot in common among the different nations, declared, “As leaders and governments across the world today, we all face the same problems in various degrees; providing infrastructure to sustain people, to sustain life, to secure life and to restore life”, adding that these are the fundamental essence of governance.

According to the Governor, “The degree to which they confound one government or the other depends on considerations like how many people that government has to provide for”, adding that in the case of Mexico City, it is 22 million people while in the case of Lagos, it is 18 million.

Governor Fashola said there could be no better and more auspicious time for world leaders and governments to reach out to each other than at this period of world economic crisis saying there was need for cross fertilization of ideas in many areas of human endeavour.

He recalled his meeting with a senior transport officer who represented the Governor of Mexico at a World Bank Transportation Forum in Washington a few weeks ago during which they shared ideas about the BRT system in Lagos, Mexico and Curitiba and declared, “That is how small our world has really become, and we can cross fertilize these ideas beyond transportation into so many other areas”.

Expressing joy that the Mexican Government has thought it fit to re-establish diplomatic relationship and presence particularly with Nigeria, Governor Fashola noted this will greatly enhance the relationship between Nigeria and Mexico pointing out that there are many areas of common interest between the two countries.

“Our responsibility here is to open our doors of hospitality to you to foster a closer understanding amongst ourselves as a basis of building bridges between our two countries”, the Governor said.

Drawing particular attention to cultural similarities, Governor Fashola said the Lagos Culture, like the Mexican culture could become borderless recalling that last Saturday during the Eyo Festival, one of the spectators drew attention to two distinct Eyo caps which he said looked like the ones used by his native masquerades, adding, “But I said no, that they are not local caps but Mexican Suberos.

“Clearly, they found their way to Lagos. In the same way, you will find what is indigenous to Lagos and Nigeria in other parts of the world”, the Governor said.

He extended condolences of the Government and People of Lagos to the Government of Mexico for those who lost their lives in the Swine Flu disaster that happened in that country recently, adding, “I am aware that all governments, especially in the Western Hemisphere and Europe are working round the clock to save the tide”.

Governor Fashola assured the Ambassador that he would be ready at all times to do any thing to make his stay comfortable and his work more successful, adding, “I hope that this will be the beginning of a very highly enduring and mutually beneficial partnership”.

Earlier, the Ambassador, in his opening remarks, said he came to show appreciation to the Governor for all that he is doing in Lagos and to express readiness to partner with Lagos in mutually beneficial areas.

The Ambassador, who announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and Embassy in Nigeria, declared, “The Government of Mexico has decided to pay more attention to Africa and among African countries to Nigeria because Nigeria is important with a big population, wonderful people with a lot of opportunities”.

“Nigeria has national and international political weight not only in the African Continent but worldwide. In the last three years, not having an Embassy here, Mexico have lost communication and contact with Nigeria and we can see we have a good political relationship with Nigeria”, the Ambassador said.

According to him, “Our President intends to give a lot of Mexico to the world and a lot of the world to Mexico. Coming to Nigeria, my objective is to give a lot of Mexico to Nigeria and a lot of Nigeria to Mexico”, adding that Lagos and Mexico could share a lot culturally and that this would enhance the existing relationship between Nigeria and Mexico.

Also present at the occasion were the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mr. Jide Sanwoolu, his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr. Kofo Abayomi, among other top Government functionaries.