The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, has said that the Kingdom maintains excellent relations with Nigeria based on friendship and mutual interests.

The Ambassador said this in his speech at the 89th National Day celebration organised by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja, Nigeria.

He said that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “a country with a lot of political and economic weight, has deep historical relations with Saudi Arabia since 1960.”

“I can confirm that our two countries have had excellent relations based on friendship and mutual interests.

“Our two countries agree on many regional and international affairs, and we have cooperation in all fields.

“We look forward to improving these relations further, and I wish the Government and people of Nigeria more success, progress and security under the leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

The Ambassador said that the 89th Saudi National Day is a day that means a lot to all Saudi citizens, a day of the unification of all the districts of Saudi Arabia, and of nation building, development and advancement to the present time.

“Your participation is our pride and proof of the excellent relations between my country and your countries,” he told his guests.

Mr Bostaji said that with the achievement of Vision 2030, the first objective is for the country to be a successful model and a leader in the world on all platforms.

“On this occasion, and on behalf of myself and my colleagues at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, it is my honour to extend the highest and most sublime congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, and to His Royal Highness, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince, and to all Saudi citizens.

“I wish our country more progress, peace and security, under the guidance of our leaders,” he stated.

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State; representative of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna State; Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Minster of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of Power, Alhaji Saleh Mamman; and Minister of State for FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjanii, attended the ceremony.

Others are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada; Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Suleiman Mustafa Lawal; Deputy Governor of Zamfara State; Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau; Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd); Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede; Chairman of the Committee against Drug Abuse, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd); Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar; Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Alex Okoh; Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mfawa Abam; and representatives of Diplomatic Missions, among other dignitaries.

•PHOTO: Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, with a cross section of guests at the 89th Saudi National Day celebration in Abuja. Photo Credit: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja, Nigeria.