Jonathan congratulates Venezuela’s president elect, Maduro

The Nigerian president congratulated his Venezuelan counterpart.

President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Venezuela’s acting President, Nicholas Maduro, on his victory in the elections held in the country on Sunday. The election followed the death last month of late President Hugo Chavez.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Reuben Abati, Mr. Jonathan noted that Nigeria and Venezuela have traditionally enjoyed close and cordial bilateral relations.

Mr. Abati said the president looks forward, therefore, to working with Mr. Maduro and his administration to further reinforce and expand existing trade, economic and developmental cooperation between both countries for the benefit of their people.

He said the president 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.

Mr. Maduro is expected to be sworn into office on Friday to complete the six-year term which late President Chavez would have begun in January.