On Monday President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Venezuela’s acting President, Mr. Nicholas Maduro, on his victory in the elections held in the country on Sunday to elect a successor to late President Hugo Chavez who passed away last month.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President noted that Nigeria and Venezuela have traditionally enjoyed close and cordial bilateral relations.

Jonathan said he looked forward to working with Maduro and his administration to further reinforce and expand existing trade, economic and developmental cooperation between both countries for the benefit of their people.
 

President Jonathan also expects that under Mr. Maduro’s leadership, Nigeria and Venezuela will continue to work together in close collaboration to strengthen the Africa-South America Cooperation Forum as a platform for the promotion of economic and political cooperation between the two countries and continents.

“As Mr. Maduro prepares to be formally sworn into office on Friday to complete the six-year term which late President Chavez would have begun in January, President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will grant him the courage, wisdom and understanding to lead the people of Venezuela forward in unity and strength to greater progress and development.