Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Sunday pledged strong bilateral parliamentary relations with Angola.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Akpabio’s media aide, Anietie Ekong.

Mr Akpabio said this when he arrived in Luanda, Angola, for the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly. He is the leader of Nigeria’s delegation.

He was received on arrival by the Nigerian ambassador to Angola, Monique Ekpong and top officials of the Angolan government led by Joao Gaspar, Deputy Secretary UIP Angola.

Mr Akpabio said he was delighted to attend the IPU Assembly hosted by Angola and commended the Angolan government for good bilateral relations with Nigeria.

“Our presence here is to ensure that our bilateral relationship is strengthened. With our presence, we can forge a strong bilateral parliamentary relationship for the interest of our nations,” Mr Akpabio said.

Mr Gaspar said the Senate president’s attendance at the IPU Assembly with the Nigerian delegation would foster good relations between Nigeria and Angola and among African countries to reach consensus on issues affecting the continent.

The ongoing IPU assembly will end on Friday.

The IPU assembly will provide a platform for parliamentarians, partner organisations and experts to share good practices and commit to the overall theme of parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions.

The theme is closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), a key enabler of the entire development agenda.

The assembly will consider actions to strengthen trust between people and governance structures, to make public institutions more effective, accountable and representative, and to equip parliaments better to address the multiple interconnected geopolitical, economic and environmental crises facing the world.

(NAN)