TheCable

Stefano De Leo, Italian ambassador to Nigeria, says his country would seek a close relationship with the incoming administration in Africa’s largest democracy.

In an interview with NAN, De Leo said Italy considered Nigeria as one of its major economic and security partners in Africa.

According to the envoy, Italy would seek to work closely with the new administration to improve the level of bilateral and multilateral cooperation involving the two countries.

“For both nations, uncertainty, crime rate, violence, and security issues are top on the agenda; we need to find common solutions. We need inclusive solutions and must discuss the solutions in a main international forum,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“We are members of the European Union. In the United Nations system, Nigeria is increasingly playing a strategic role, especially when it comes to economy and security.

“On May 29, a new administration will come in. From that moment, we have to find ways to improve and increase our cooperation in many fields.

“We shall look at where Nigeria is strategic, starting from oil and gas. We shall also go into other economic issues and also issues that are concerning the global security balance.

“So, Nigeria is a major player without whom we cannot decide worldwide balances in security issues.”

In July 2022, the relationship between Italy and Nigeria came under intense scrutiny after a 39-year-old physically challenged Nigerian was killed by an Italian.

Alika Ogorchukwu, the Nigerian, was beaten to death in Civitanova Marche city in the Province of Macerata, Marche region.

The assailant was said to have grabbed the Nigerian’s crutch and struck him down.

Responding to this incident at the time, Daniel Amanza, head of the association for immigrants in the Marche region’s Macerata province (ACSIM), called for calm amid a wave of protests and outbursts across Italy.