HEAD of the Seme border Command of the Beninois Police, Waidi Akodjenou, has applauded the Federal Government of Nigeria for conceiving and establishing the Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV) to foster the teaching and learning of French in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Head, Protocol and Public Relations, NFLV, Festus Okundia. Akodjenou made the remark when the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NFLV, Prof. Raufu Adebisi, paid him a familiarisation visit at his Seme-Krake office recently.

During the interaction, the Police Chief said Nigeria was a very strong political, economic and social pull not only to countries in the sub-region, but also to Africa as a whole. In view of this, the Federal Government’s decision to promote the learning of French as a foreign language by establishing the NFLV is highly commendable.

According to him, the use of a common language is a catalyst for reciprocal interaction in business, education, socio-cultural and security intelligence sharing in the sub-region.

He posited that the bilingual orientation of Nigeria would open the country to a new era of accelerated industrial and technological development and also allow her expand her circle of trading partners. Nigeria, he added, will also place itself in a position to obtain its fair share of representation in international organization in which bilingualism is an absolute requirement for appointments.

The officer, who was posted to Seme border in 2013, maintained that there was harmonious working relationship between the Nigerian and Beninois security agents at the border.

This, he said, had helped to minimize the crime rate in the area. He added that security at the border was a big challenge, when it comes to free movement of goods and persons in accordance with the ECOWAS protocol.

He said, while it was their duty to ensure that law abiding citizens of the two countries have free movement across the borders in pursuit of their legitimate affairs, it was difficult to distinguish persons with criminal intents also going in and out of both countries.

He commended participants and students of the Village who cross the border for the week-end excursions and language contacts in Benin for their orderly conduct. He said as leaders of tomorrow, the youths needed to be encouraged to become bilingual and to work towards a truly united Africa. Adebisi thanked Akodjenou for the warm reception accorded him and his team.

He appreciated him for identifying with the Village and particularly for finding time to visit the Village and interact with the students at their Friday French talk show – “Causerie du Vendredi” whenever he was invited to do so.

He expressed the readiness of the Village to sustain and build on the existing mutual relationship between the Village and the Beninois authorities.