(Seychelles News Agency) - Nigeria is looking to build stronger relations with Seychelles, the newly accredited High Commissioner said on Tuesday. 

Momoh Sheidu Omeiza presented his credentials to President Danny Faure at State House, Victoria.

Omeiza pledged to take cooperation between Nigeria and Seychelles to greater heights.

On his side, Faure congratulated the new High Commissioner and noted the excellent relationship that exists between the two countries. The head of state also expressed his wish to deepen diplomatic relations especially under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, where he said that Seychelles has benefitted in various sectors.

The Technical Aid Corps Agreement (TAC) is the mechanism through which Nigeria provides Seychelles with technical expertise in areas of need, especially in health and education. It was conceived in 1987 to provide African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states with manpower. Seychelles has been receiving such assistance since 2007. 

Seychelles’ President and the Nigerian High Commissioner also discussed taking bilateral relations between the two countries to the next level in key areas. (Thomas Meriton) Photo License: CC-BY

 Another area where Nigeria and Seychelles can share expertise is on “tackling the issue of mismanagement and corruption,” said Omeiza

The island nation in the western Indian Ocean set up an Anti-Corruption Commission last year after the Anti-Corruption Act of 2016 came into force. To date, the Commission has recorded three cases of corruption, two of which have been sent to the Attorney-General's office to be analysed.

Seychelles’ President and the Nigerian High Commissioner also discussed taking bilateral relations between the two countries to the next level in key areas such as health, education, housing, and sports.

Commerce and trade are two other areas Omeiza said Nigeria and Seychelles can strengthen cooperation. He said that “these two areas have been the backbone resulting to that longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Seychelles.”

The Nigerian High Commissioner will be based in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. He said that distance is not going to be a problem and will visit every now and then as per the president’s request.

On Tuesday, the Swedish ambassador to Seychelles also presented her credentials to President Danny Faure at State House. 

Anna Jardfelt was accredited as Swedish ambassador to Seychelles on Tuesday. (Thomas Meriton) Photo License: CC-BY

Seychelles’ environment is a model for small island states and an area where Sweden’s government can learn from, said the newly accredited Swedish ambassador.

Speaking to the press after her accreditation, Anna Jardfelt, said that there is a lot to learn from Seychelles’ “pristine environment and it has been of great interest for Sweden.”

On his side, President Faure thanked the government of Sweden for all the support given to Seychelles over the last few years, particularly as a key partner in the fight against piracy, which he said has proven very successful.

Faure also discussed some of the key areas where Seychelles is keen to develop further cooperation with Sweden both locally and at the international arena, including climate change, the blue economy, environment, and waste management.

Jardfelt also touched on the joint interest and importance of climate change, which she said is a real issue and it is affecting every nation.

“As small island states, we are very vulnerable. This is why we need to join hands to raise awareness,” said Jardfelt.

She expressed concerns over the challenges faced by small island states especially in relation to the critical balance required between protection of the environment and development, for example ensuring sustainable fishing, sustainable tourism.

“These are also issues that our government are trying to push since we are a member of the UN Security Council. Both our countries not being the biggest in the world, we are trying to be a voice for others like us,” she said.