Nigeria-Cote D’Ivoire BI-National Commission will open new vistas of Cooperation -VP Sambo.

[FMINigeria]

Vice President Namadi Sambo has said that the Nigeria-Cote d'Ivoire Bi-National Commission (BNC) would open new vistas of cooperation between the two ECOWAS countries as it would bring their institutions closer.

The Vice President stated this Wednesday, in Abuja, when he hosted the visiting Prime Minister of Cote d'Ivoire, Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan and his delegation to a dinner, ahead of the 1st Session of the BNC, holding today, Thursday, August 1, 2013, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Vice President Sambo, delighted with the presence of the Prime Minister in the country, expressed optimism that the BNC would not only further cement the existing bond between the two countries, but would also impact positively on the ECOWAS sub-region.

He said, "Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire are among the largest economies in the West African Sub-Region. Therefore, we have common interests and we can add value to one another in areas of improved trade, commerce, exchange of information and capacity building," adding that, "in order to take full advantage of this, the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services among members of the Community is very important."

Similarly, to ensure the continuous implementation of agreements and MoUs that would be born from the session, Arc Sambo buttressed the need for both countries to establish Special Implementation Committees (SIC). He expressed the hope that by the end of the session several areas of cooperation would have been given new impetus and a solid platform for purposeful and sustainable future engagements, established.

He seized the opportunity to reiterate the unwavering support of Nigeria to lasting peace and security in Cote d'Ivoire, while also calling on Ivoriens to support their government in that direction, stressing that "Nigeria will continue to cooperate with Cote D'Ivoire in the promotion of global peace and the development of the African continent."

While speaking further, Vice President Sambo enumerated the giant strides the President Goodluck Jonathan administration had made in the implementation of the Transformation Agenda, in the areas of Power, Agriculture, Transportation, Mining, Health, Education, Housing, and Manufacturing, as well as public safety, security and strict adherence to the rule of law.

When responding, the Ivorien Prime Minister, Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation since arrival.

He noted that Nigeria was a strong country and to show the seriousness with which his country attached to the BNC, his delegation was made up of over eleven ministers.

Mr. Duncan also stated that his country desires to diversify her trade relations with Nigeria, put at $2.7 billion, which according to him is oil based to other sectors of the economy so as to tap and maximize their enormous potentials to ensure economic stability.

The Prime Minister disclosed that his country had started constructing the Lagos- Cotonou – Abidjan highway with six lanes on both sides, commending Nigeria for constructing her own section with ten lanes, five on both side.

He was confident that with the commitment of both countries to the BNC their cooperation would be a pacesetter for other sister African countries.

President Jonathan and his Ivorien counterpart, President Alassane Ouattara, established the Bi-National Commission, during President Jonathan's State Visit to Cote d'Ivoire in March 2013. The 1st session of the BNC commenced with the meeting of the Expert Groups from 30th to 31st July 2013, in Abuja.

Print PDF                                             

Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria