ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, 27th JANUARY, 2009_ Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has welcomed efforts by the Nigerian Government to provide assistance to Grenada in the areas of health, agriculture and education. The Prime Minister met today with a delegation from Nigeria, led by the High Commissioner to Grenada, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Dominica, Mr. Musa John Jen. The Grenadian leader updated Mr. John Jen on Grenada’s recovery from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. “Nigeria has very good relations with Caribbean countries and we want to deepen those relations. We are interested in giving assistance in areas recommended by the government,” the High Commissioner told Prime Minister Thomas. He said Nigeria is interested in areas of agricultural extension services, health and education, adding that his country “appreciates the goodwill extended to people from our country who have made their home in the Caribbean.” The High Commissioner said his government is working to improve air transport from the Caribbean to Nigeria given the high cost of the current route through the UK or the United States. “We are working on a direct flight route into Nigeria for Nigerian families living in the Caribbean. It will lessen the problems with communication if we can do that,” he said. High Commissioner John Jen petitioned the Prime Minister to consider establishing a presence, even at the level of an honorary consul, in the Nigerian capital, given the good relations between the two countries. “We will consider this but we are working with other (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) OECS countries to have joint representation. It will be economically challenging if we had to finance this alone,” the Prime Minister said. The High Commissioner told Prime Minister Thomas he will return to Grenada in February for Grenada’s celebration of its 35 year of independence. The Nigerian Delegation leaves Grenada Tuesday night. Office of the Prime Minister INSIDE GRENADA NEWS