I would like to extend a very warm welcome to you, Shehu ShagariMr President, to your two Ministerial colleagues, and to the other members of your party.
We are delighted to see you here on your State visit to Britain and I am glad you will have the opportunity to remain for a few days thereafter. Our two countries and peoples have longstanding close and friendly ties as fellow members of the Commonwealth. I speak for your country's very many friends when I say how very pleased we all are that you have found it possible to come to Britain when you have so many other important matters to attend to. (I must say that I do not envy anyone who has both the functions of Head of State and of Head of Government to perform, with no less than nineteen states to keep happy!)
This is the first time that I have had the pleasure of meeting you, Mr President. I look forward very much to our talks this afternoon and to thereafter renewing our acquaintance at frequent intervals. I hope we shall meet, for example, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this year in Melbourne.
Mr President, you are at the helm of your great country at a crucial time in its history. We have much admired Nigeria's carefully planned and smoothly conducted return from military to civilian rule. Your elections held in 1979 must surely have been the largest-scale expression of democracy ever held on your great continent. Your country [end p1] has designed and brought into operation a new constitution adapted and suited to Nigerian needs. This experiment has great significance for the peoples of the free world, especially on the continent of Africa.
We place particular importance on our relations with Nigeria because of the traditionally close links between us; because your country plays such a leading and influential role in the affairs of your continent; and because of our genuine and growing inter-dependence. I believe that with the start of a new decade, both our countries are embarking on a fresh and yet closer relationship.
Since our two Governments came into office, relations between our countries have strengthened considerably. Your own visit, Mr President, represents a culmination of the visits, consultations and discussions which have been taking place over the last twelve months. You have received Mr John Nott, Sir Ian Gilmour and Lord Carrington in Nigeria; and I look back with pleasure on the extremely successful visits which Professor Audu and Dr Wayas made to Britain last year. [I hope myself to have the opportunity to visit Nigeria before too long.]
Mr President, I have spoken of the admiration which your many friends in Britain have for your country's achievements. This extends not least to the great economic progress Nigeria has made over the last decade and which you are determined to carry forward pragmatically and effectively under your fourth national plan. If I may say so, your personal dedication to your country's interests above all else, has been an inspiration to your nation. The emphasis [end p2] within your plans for the rapid achievement of self-sufficiency both in industrial capacity and a renovated agriculture, seems entirely appropriate to the new Nigeria. Moreover, your work for dialogue, co-operation and harmony not only within your own country but within the continent of Africa, has great significance.
It is timely that your new book ‘My Vision of Nigeria’ is to be published here next Monday. I look forward to seeing it and wish it every success.
Your country's stature as a leader of Africa was clearly shown when you, Mr President, were host at Lagos last year to the first Economic Summit of the Organisation of African Unity at which you called so clearly for practical co-operation between nations in Africa. Your country has demonstrated its capacity for constructive leadership for the benefit of all the peoples of your continent. We greatly value the chance to consult you on matters of African and international concern.
I would like to mention one major achievement on your continent for which we both worked so hard: Zimbabwe's coming to independence last year. This was truly a joint effort and showed clearly the value of co-operation and endeavour within the Commonwealth.
I hope this afternoon to be able to discuss other issues of current concern to both our countries within the continent of Africa and wider afield. We seek peaceful and internationally recognised settlement in Namibia and movement towards a free and just society in South Africa. Wider afield, the problems facing all of us today are daunting: the threat to peace, regionally and globally; the particularly grave economic circumstances in which so many developing countries find themselves; the need for better understanding between all of us on how to construct [end p3] a new world which will cater for the interests of all its peoples.
But however serious these international problems, I am convinced that Britain and Nigeria can face them together in a positive and constructive way. I can see no substantial bilateral problems between us that will inhibit such co-operation; and am convinced that if any were to emerge, we could quickly and amicably find solutions to them. Such is the special merit of a long and close relationship and of continuing dialogue and personal contact.
May I assure you, Mr President, that we are determined to play our part in whatever way we can to assist in your country's economic leap forward. There is no question of us having lost faith, or interest, in your country's future. Quite the reverse. We support you fully.
I would like to conclude by saying again how glad we are to see you here, Mr President, I hope that your visit is a happy and a memorable one. This is certainly our own very sincere desire.