The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday restated the determination and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the advancement pan-African agenda.
Onyeama made the assertion when he was received by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, Ambassador Cain Matheme, and Minister for Health and Child Care, Dr. Obadiah Moyo, at Robert Mugabe International Airport, Harare.
Onyeama was in Zimbabwe to extend relief materials and items to the country following the tropical disaster that hit three Southern African countries, including Malawi and Mozambique.
He said Buhari asked him to deliver relief assistance to Zimbabwe after the cyclone that claimed lives of many people and displaced thousands.
He said: “We are supplying something that is needed and we are donating 20 tonnes of medical equipment and other items.
“The first batch will be delivered tomorrow morning; we hope to have our C130 available to be able to deliver within a day.
“But, it will be available at the end of this week or latest early next week, we will be able to deliver the complements of 20 tonnes medical equipment and medicines.
“In addition, President Buhari also gave us $500,000 cash to hand over to the government of Zimbabwe.”
Onyeama recalled that during the years of the fight against Apartheid and colonialism, Nigeria was considered a frontline state “in spite of the fact that we are in faraway West Africa”.
He said that Buhari was a p-anAfricanist, who believed in the spirit of brotherhood and togetherness in Africa.
The minister added that in spite of the economic and other challenges confronting Nigeria, Buhari believed that we could still show solidarity to brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe.
“This is the true spirit of African brotherhood and one united African people,” he said.
Responding, Matheme said the President and people of Zimbabwe were grateful for the assistance from Nigeria.
He recalled that years back, many Zimbabweans were trained and educated by Nigerian Government, adding that the government and people of Zimbabwe had remained grateful to Nigeria.
On his part, Moyo said that naturally, when disaster struck, there would be deaths, sorrow, including sicknesses and injuries.
He added: “It is gratifying to receive assistance from Nigeria at this stage that we have so many people who were afflicted by Malaria and Cholera.
“I have seen the list of medicines that Nigeria has given us; it is a very comprehensive list of essential medicines, which are extremely relevant at this time.
“So, this gift is very much worth the while and it is a gift which shows that Nigeria wants Zimbabweans to continue living and there is nothing much that could be better than to sustain lives here in Zimbabwe.”
NAN.