Nigeria Gives Sierra Leone Cash And Vehicles For Polls.

Nigeria has donated a fleet of vehicles plus cash to help Sierra Leone hold a free and fair election on November 17.
The Nigerian Government on Monday handed over 24 brand new Toyota Hillux pick-ups plus a cheque for $1 million to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to boost its election basket fund.
The donation coincided with the 52nd Independence anniversary of the West African superpower, which played a lead role in restoring peace to Sierra Leone during its civil war.
As part of the support to the Sierra Leone, 10 NEC members are undergoing training on ICT in Nigeria.
Nigeria's High Commissioner to Freetown Eyo Asuquo said the move was “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s current transformation in strengthening democratic governance in the sub region.”
Several Nigerian troops died in the war in Sierra Leone as part of the Ecomog contingent that helped flush out rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Besides that, Nigeria has continued to provide technical aid support in the educational and health sectors of the country.
Democratic gestures“Nigeria’s Pan-Africanist role is not only limited to Sierra Leone, but to the entire sub region, Africa and the World at large,” Mr Asuquo said in a statement.
Neighbouring Liberia received a similar support during its elections last year.
Nigeria has been eyeing a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, and this display of big brotherly role in the region is seen as a move towards that goal.


“By such gesture, Nigeria is exhibiting democratic principles and norms to other countries in the sub region and not territorial acquisition there by strengthening Nigeria's quest to be a permanent member in the Security Council of the United Nations by such leadership attributes and democratic gestures,” the Nigerian envoy said.