Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has promised to assist Nigeria combat Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism and counter religious extremism.
President Puting spoke spoke when he received the Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Professor Abdullahi Shehu, who presented a Letter of Credence to him at Grand Kremlin Palace.
On specific areas of bilateral cooperation with Nigeria, Putin assured of “very promising expansion on substantive dialogue on topical issues related to maintaining stability in the world hydrocarbon markets, combating terrorism and countering religious extremism”.
He said his country was open to mutually beneficial partnership with all countries without exception but based on equality, and respect for each other’s interests while observing the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of each other.
He said Russia had developed vaccines to combat COVID-19 and was read to collaborate with any country interested in availing any of the Russian vaccines.
In his response, Shehu extended the greetings of President Muhammadu Buhari to Putin.