President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigeria and the Benin Republic are two West African neighbours that need each other for shared economic benefits and are therefore inseparable.
Tinubu made the state during a meeting with his Benin Republic counterpart, Patrice Talon, held after the ‘New Global Financing Pact’ summit in Paris on Friday, June 23, 203.
Nigeria’s President to his Benin counterpart that Nigeria is ready to work with Benin on multiple fronts including the area of trade, security, and border control to achieve economic prosperity.
A statement signed and issued late Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, further cemented the two countries partnership for prosperity.
“We must recognise the fact that we need each other. We are in a loop and no one should separate us,” the Tinubu told Talon.
President Tinibu said that the two states are like conjoined twins, joined at the hips, and supported by other friendly countries and should be there for one another.
While emphasising on the two countries closeness, Tinubu assures Talon that his administration will maintain an open-door policy and remain accessible to all neighbouring countries.
He further stressed that Nigeria will sustain its spotlight on African countries as pivotal to its policies on the economy and foreign policy, as trade issues, security, and border controls will be collectively handled.
He also briefed the Beninois President about his recent move to improve border controls with his country, saying, “I just appointed someone who will work with you as Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, and he will be available for our common interest.”
He reiterated that bilateral relations with African countries, particularly at the sub-regional level will be enhanced for shared benefits in areas of security, health, energy, education and diplomacy.
“We are ready to improve relations. Africa has been the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
“I believe in Africa. We have the necessity to grow the continent. The world’s economy is wobbling, and Africa has been left behind,” said Tinubu.
He lamented that Africa’s high-risk rating has made it suffer “higher interest rates on borrowing.”
“We are always classified as high risk. We must work together for systematic recovery and growth,” Tinubu added.
In his remark, Talon told Tinubu he was inspired with renewed hope for the West African sub-region and the continent as a whole at the inauguration of President Tinubu in Abuja.
He assures Tinubu that he would do everything with his official capacity to promote mutual beneficial trade and security policy between both countries, with focus on the borders.
“We are prepared to work with you, Your Excellency, in implementing policies that will protect our economies at land and sea entries. Whatever is forbidden in Nigeria will also be forbidden in Benin,” Talon added.
