Nigeria loves objective reporting

It is good to see Nigeria's Brussels mission continuing its transparent and honest information policy in the post-Abacha era.Its latest issue of News from Nigeria gives a wonderfully objective appraisal of the country's new leader General Abdulsalam Abubakar. Apparently, Abdulsalam joined the Nigerian air force in 1963 because he was “imbued with patriotism to serve the fatherland”, and “by dint of hard work, he progressed steadily ... earning his promotions regularly”.Not only can the general's career be “described as meritorious” but also “very enduring”, according to the biography, and he has always pursued “professional excellence”, with consistently “good performances”. His approach to politics is based on “the concept of sincerity of purpose”. In short, “General Abubakar's career as a military officer can simply be described as exemplary ... an epitome of professional soldiering ... an experienced loyal officer who stood out from colleagues for his humanity, open-mindedness and military efficiency”. It also transpires that Abubakar is the unsung author of the Nigerian classic Centralisation of Purchase of Common Items in use by Armed Forces.With such leaders it is no wonder, as the newsletter later asserts, that “the EU has always attached great importance to its relationship with Nigeria in recognition of the country's pivotal role in international affairs”.