The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, says President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies are intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity nationwide.
The First Lady said this on Tuesday when she received the ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria, Amb. Yousef Bin Hassan Al-Hail, and the embassy’s consul, Mr Khalifa Al-Khalifa, during a courtesy visit.
Mrs Tinubu said Nigeria’s relationship with Qatar should be further strengthened for mutual benefit.
She identified terrorism and kidnapping as the country’s major security challenges, assuring the ambassador that the president and security agencies were working tirelessly to address them.
She described Nigeria as a vast country with peaceful, friendly and patriotic people.
“We know as Nigerians that we have a great country. One of the things we want our young people to do is to visit other states in Nigeria. It is a very beautiful country.
“Talking about evil, evil does not have a face. It comes in different forms, and what we are experiencing in Nigeria is terrorism and kidnapping.
“However, the president is doing everything possible, alongside members of the armed forces, to tackle these challenges.
“We are hopeful. We believe Nigeria will be great in our time and will take its rightful place among the comity of nations,” she said.
The First Lady also urged young Nigerians to take advantage of the country’s rich natural and cultural endowments and explore opportunities in tourism to create jobs.
“I am delighted to be in this position because it allows me to travel across the country, meet our people, appreciate their cultures and see what Nigeria has to offer.
“We have not fully explored the potential of our young people. While we focus on oil, lithium and gas, Nigeria’s greatest treasure lies in tourism.
“We have a rich culture, excellent cuisine and many attractions that can provide employment opportunities for young people.
“We have our challenges, but if we encourage our young people to discover the true wealth of this nation, it will be of great benefit to the country,” she said.
Earlier, Al-Hail commended Nigeria and called for stronger bilateral cooperation between Qatar and Nigeria, particularly in the aviation and tourism sectors.
He also urged Nigerians to shun cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation on social media, saying such practices negatively project the country’s image.
“Nigeria is a diverse country with different peoples, cultures and languages. As one of the world’s leading oil producers, it occupies an important economic position in Africa.
“Nigeria also has the largest population on the continent, making it a key player in Africa’s economic and political landscape.
“We look forward to strengthening economic ties, addressing common challenges and building a robust partnership for development and stability.
“Before I came, I was afraid of Nigeria because of what I saw on social media, but my experience has been completely different.
“Nigeria has good weather, wonderful people and beautiful nature. It feels like home.
“We should increase the number of flights to Abuja and Lagos to three or four times a week,” he said. (NAN)
