Nigeria’s Parliament Declared Open

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29326, 4 October 1960, Page 15

Nigeria’s Parliament Declared Open

LAGOS, October 3.

Princess Alexandra today formally declared open a new session of both Houses of Parliament of the newly-independent Nigeria.

In a speech from the Throne she said that the Nigerian Government believed its primary task was to induce a climate of stability in Africa. The Princess is the personal representative of her cousin, the Queen, at Nigeria’s independence celebrations which reached their climax on Saturday when she handed over documents establishing the nation’s statehood to the Federal Prime Minister. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Yesterday, the Princess watched a traditional Nigerian water regatta and a flying display featuring jet bombers and aerobatics by »be Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. Princess Alexandra, tn her speech from the Throne, said a climate of stability in Africa was needed so that the maximum amount of each nation’s resources was devoted to the carrying out of development schemes and the minimum deflected into unproductive channels, the speech said. The joint session of the 245member Senate and 312-member House of Representatives was held in the National Hall, built as Lagos’ counterpart to London’s Festival Hall, which has been used for the House of Representatives since it was opened in January. The Government would pay

special attention to the problem confronting the Continent of Africa and “by fostering such cultural and economic links as already exist win promote intergovernmental co-operation with a view to raising the standard of living throughout West Africa," said the speech. On Nigerian development, it said: “Proposals tor the introduction of further industrialisation will be followed up with determination. and negotiations for the establishment of an oil refinery in Nigeria will be pursued with the confident expectation of a mutually beneficial agreement being reached." It concluded with the Queen’s congratulations and good wishes to the newly independent country, the most populous in Africa, and the words: “I am confident you will have an influence in the world at large and am happy to believe you will use your influence only in support of a righteous cause. "Your Constitution Is founded upon the highest principles which have been chosen by you yourselves. I pray that you may always have faith and unity to >vserve these principles intact, and that under the guidance of Almighty God you may work successfully for this land and all its peoples.”