Reps inaugurates committee on Nigeria-Saudi Arabia parliamentary friendship group

The House of Representatives, on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated a nine-man committee for the creation of a Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Deputy Speaker Suleimon Lasun, who inaugurated the committee, said the idea to create the group was nurtured when a delegation from the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia, led byPrince Khalid Abdullahi, paid him a courtesy visit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Shura is an Arabic word for consultation. Lasun said that the visit by Shura was to commiserate with Nigeria over the death of its citizens in the Hajj stampede of 2015.

The deputy speaker added that apart from the initial aim of the visit, it also brought about the need for a renewed and nurturing of stronger ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

"This is in response to the sentiments expressed at that meeting,’’ Lasun said. He said that the inauguration of the committee further demonstrates Nigeria's resolve to help address several national challenges that required bilateral cooperation.

Lasun called on members of the committee to be committed and demonstrate exemplary conduct in carrying out their assignment. The Chairmanship of the committee, Rep. Abdullahi Salame,(Sokoto-APC), thanked the speaker and the deputy speaker for inaugurating the committee.

"Creating this committee could not have come at a better time.

"The speaker, in his wisdom, saw the need to extend hand of friendship to our counterparts in Shura Council.

‘’This is to foster bilateral ties and create new alliance in religious and cultural sectors."

‘’The idea is also to foster bilateral ties in trade and investments, parliamentary technical cooperation and exchange between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, ‘’ he said.