International News
President visits ECOMIL troops
Aug 14, 2003, 23:00
| | President Obasanjo on Thursday 14 August reminded Nigerian troops preparing to depart for peacekeeping duties in Liberia that they have a crucial task to restore peace to that country.
The President’s reminder came when he visited the troops on Thursday 14 August at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
He also inspected a column of 68 armoured tanks being despatched by the Nigerian Army to aid the Liberian peacekeeping operations.
Meanwhile, Nigerian peacekeepers have taken effective control of the port in Monrovia from rebel forces.
Grateful Liberians cheered Nigerian troops as they moved to take over the ports from where much needed food and humanitarian aid could be brought in and distributed to the starving population.
Nigeria’s commander of ECOMIL, Brig. General Festus Okonkwo, formally took over control of the port from retreating rebel commander, Sekou Fofana, in the presence of US Ambassador John Blaney.
The control of the port is seen as a major step in restoring normalcy in the war-ravaged country.
Peace talks have also resumed at Ghana. On Wednesday new Liberian president Moses Blah met with rebel leaders to chart a new peace plan.
Nigeria’s former head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, is chairing the peace talks.
Related Articles:
First batch of Nigerian peacekeepers arrives Liberia
ECOWAS fixes Liberia deployment date
Peacekeeping: Nigeria makes huge sacrifices
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