Nigeria and the Benin Republic government have held bilateral engagement which is seen as a historical milestone poised to transform the region into a major trade hub.
According to a statement issued by Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, the bilateral was meeting held at the Segbana customs border post in Benin Republic.
The Nigeria’s delegation led by Tuggar included Dr Nasir Kaura, the governor of Kebbi State; Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs; Dakorinama George, Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency, and Aliyu Mohammed, Director of Home Finance representing the Minister of Finance.
Representing Benin were Romauld Wadgani, Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of cooperation, Shegun Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Adidjatou Zanouvi, Director General of Customs.
Tuggar highlighted the significance of the meeting in operationalizing the Kebbi-Segbana border, underscoring President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening economic relations between the two countries.
This initiative is part of the government’s comprehensive 8-point agenda aimed at fostering economic growth and prosperity.
The bilateral meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a project implementation working group with short, medium, and long-term frameworks, reviving the Nigeria-Benin Joint Commission, which last met in 2014 in Cotonou.
The re-establishment of the Permanent Joint Commission is expected to bolster ongoing governmental efforts to enhance bilateral economic relations.
In alignment with Nigeria’s 4 Ds foreign policy goals, Tuggar addressed the issue of border frictions, particularly the efforts to repatriate 700 Nigerians living in Segbana, Northern Benin Republic.
He emphasized the need for harmonious relationships along shared borders and advocated for mutually inclusive approaches to resolving conflicts between Nigerian and Beninese communities, ensuring a peaceful and sustainable solution to border clashes.
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