Cuban VP Esteban Lazo Meets with Nigerian President

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo met with the President of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, in a formal audience on Tuesday.

According to Granma news daily, during the meeting at the presidential palace in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, Lazo delivered greetings and a message to the African leader from his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro.

Lazo reiterated the willingness of the Cuban people and government to continue developing bilateral relations and cooperation with Nigeria in the areas of public health, energy, biotechnology, the training of professionals and the implementation of the Cuban literacy method ‘Yo si puedo’ (Yes, I Can) in this African nation.

For his part, the Nigerian leader praised the historic relations between both countries saying that they go “beyond politics and economy as they are relations between blood brothers”.

He also acknowledged Cuba’s contribution to the elimination of apartheid and the struggle for the independence of the African continent, and also Cuba’s role in leading the Non Aligned Movement (NAM).

Earlier on Tuesday, the Cuban delegation was received by Nigerian VP Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and several ministers, including FM Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

During these meetings, the Nigerian officials reiterated their country’s demand for the end of the US economic blockade of the Caribbean archipelago and the release of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who have remained unjustly in US prisons since 1998.

Lazo and his accompanying delegation are on an African tour that will also take then to Botswana and South Africa, where they will participate in the swearing-in ceremony of president-elect Jacob Zuma, which will take place in Pretoria next Saturday, May 9.

(Vicepresidente cubano recibido por el Presidente de Nigeria)