Wike Hails Cote d’Ivoire over AFCON 2023 Triumph

Olawale Ajimotokan  in Abuja 

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has congratulated the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire for emerging the winner of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

He gave the commendation yesterday when the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mr Kalilou Traore, paid him a visit in Abuja.

Cote d’Ivoire’s Elephants defeated Super Eagles 2-1 in the final match played in Abidjan to join Nigeria as the only two countries to win the coveted competition on three occasions.

“Even though that is particularly not what we wanted. We wanted to come back home with the cup, but God said that it is your own turn.

“So, I congratulate you for that and also for being a good host for the tournament,” Wike said.

He commended Cote d’Ivoire for taking steps to develop the plot of land allocated to its Embassy in Abuja, stressing that the FCTA had insisted that all allocated land must be developed as part of measures to check insecurity in the Federal Capital City.

“I thank you for developing the land that was given to your embassy.

“The whole essence is to ensure undesirable elements do not convert the land to their hideouts to carry out nefarious activities. We do not want to leave certain areas for miscreants, and so we thank you for the cooperation,” the FCT minister said.

He also stressed the need for stronger ties among ECOWAS countries for the development of the sub-region saying Nigeria will continue to strengthen its relationship with other countries.

“Luckily, our President is the Chair of ECOWAS, and so, we will do everything we can to see that our relationship is smooth, cordial and symbiotic,” he said.

Earlier, Traore said that the visit was to inform the minister that the Embassy was about to begin the development of the land allocated to it in Maitama.

“We were given two plots in Abuja: one at the Diplomatic Drive area and the other at Maitama.

“We have built a big building in the Diplomatic Drive area, and we are about to commence the development of the plot in Maitama,” he said.

The Ambassador added he intends to come to the proposal with a proposal of twinning Abuja and the political capital of Cote d’Ivoire, Yamoussoukro, to find a common ground to move forward.