The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has committed additional 1.5 Million United States Dollars to assist Liberia, as the country intensifies its fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

 The disclosure was made on Thursday by Nigerian Ambassador accredited near Monrovia Her Excellency Chigozie  Ngozie Obi-Nnadozie  when the she  paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nigerian Ambassador said that this latest tranche of donation to Liberia was approved by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as a gesture of solidarity to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Liberian people and was also in recognition of the longstanding traditional ties between Liberia and Nigeria.

Ambassador Obi-Nnadozie stressed that Nigeria remains committed to ensuring sub-regional and continental peace, security and social stability and has found Liberia a very willing and capable ally in this noble pursuit.

She disclosed that President Good luck Jonathan on behalf of Nigeria is disposed to consolidating fraternal bonds and good neighborliness with countries within the West African sub-region, adding “the solidarity is both in peace and in war time, and also in disease and in health”.  

In response, Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Government and People of Nigeria for the generous assistance toward Liberia’s Ebola response.

“Madam Ambassador, let me on behalf of Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and the Government and the People of Liberia, extend to the People of Nigeria the warm and profound appreciation of the people of Liberia for yet another demonstration of solid partnership. Crisis has a way of separating fair-weather friends from all-weather friends; throughout this Ebola crisis , the   Federal Republic of Nigeria has proved to be  one of Liberia’s all-weather friend”,  Minister Ngafuan stated.

He recalled with appreciation Nigeria’s announcement in July 2014 of a US$500,000 donation to Liberia. He  added that  President  Goodluck Jonathan took a pioneering position in rallying significant  financial and other forms of assistance from the International Community towards the Liberia’s Ebola response.

Also commenting on Nigeria’s upcoming elections, Minister Ngafuan expressed confidence that as Nigerians go to their presidential polls next month, the people of that West African state will conduct a very peaceful and democratic election, which could serve as a positive example for the other four West African countries that are expected to hold presidential elections in 2015.