By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja commemorated the 94th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the residence of the Saudi Ambassador, His Excellency Faisal bin Ebraheem Alghamdi.
The event brought together an esteemed group of government officials, heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of international organizations, and prominent businessmen.
In his address, Ambassador Alghamdi highlighted the significance of the occasion, marking 94 years since King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud unified the Kingdom, creating a strong and stable entity grounded in a tolerant Islamic creed that upholds values of equality, justice, and confidence.
He emphasised that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the first fixed-line model in the modern Middle East, a testament to its progressive leadership.
Ambassador Alghamdi also took the opportunity to celebrate the longstanding and growing bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, which have flourished for over 63 years.
He noted that the partnership between the two nations continues to strengthen under the leadership of both countries, with numerous bilateral agreements signed over the years, which have fostered greater collaboration and an increased exchange of visits between government officials, enhancing diplomatic ties and cooperation.
Reflecting on the strong bonds between the Kingdom and Nigeria, the Ambassador wished the Nigerian government and its people continued progress and success. Furthermore, Ambassador Alghamdi stated Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the comfort and tranquility of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. He praised the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who closely supervise and follow up on all arrangements for pilgrims.
He noted that in 2023, the Kingdom facilitated the pilgrimage of 120,000 Nigerians for Umrah and 65,000 for Hajj.
Additionally, the Ambassador said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has offered 260 scholarships to Nigerian students, both male and female, further enhancing educational exchange between the two countries. He also revealed that trade volume between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria stands at $600 million, reflecting the deep economic ties between the two nations.
Ambassador Alghamdi also spoke about the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts in Nigeria, including the Nur-Saudi Voluntary Project initiated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The first phase of this project has focused on combating blindness and performing life-saving surgeries such as open-heart and urology procedures.
