SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, (THEWILL) – Finally, the main meeting of the Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Bi-National Commission (BNC) has been scheduled to hold on August 1 with preparatory meetings expected to hold on July 29 and 30. The new dates are coming after the meeting was postponed on two previous occasions.
Disclosing this on Thursday at the State House while briefing Vice President Namadi Sambo on the progress made so far in convening the BNC meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, said the two countries have synergy in their attempts to realise the goals of the BNC.
He noted that this is the first time the two countries, which are strong members of ECOWAS and African Union, would be working together on the same mission.
Sambo, while receiving the briefing, sought to know the level of preparedness and involvement of key sectors of the economy, including science and technology, tourism, education and more importantly, trade and investment.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Vice President, Alhaji Sani Umar, quoted the Permanent Secretary as saying that “it was providential that our President happened to be the Chairman of ECOWAS then and was instrumental to restoration of peace and the authentic person that won the election to become the president,” stressing that that is reflective of how strategic Nigeria is in the sub-region.
He added Nigeria has similar relationship with the United States of America, Canada, South Africa and now Cote D’Ivoire, where the countries meet regularly at the level of the Vice President.
He noted that there are 10 harmonised agreements and MOUs out of which three are ready for signature while others would be finalised during the preparatory meetings to be attended by experts from both countries.
He listed the agreements to include agreement on fighting crimes, memorandum on military cooperation, tourism, agreement on trade cooperation, MOU on science and technology, higher education, sports cooperation, cultural cooperation, mining cooperation and others.
Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom, who also briefed Sambo on the preparations, said the balance of trade between the two countries is in favour of Nigeria as he stressed the need to strengthen the relationship. He noted that in order to strengthen trade, a business council is to be established , comprising of the private sectors in both countries for enhancing exchange of business ideas and programmes.
Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, disclosed that meetings had been held in Cote d’Voire on the MOU to be signed on crime prevention, illegal migration and human trafficking, illegal trade in narcotics, terrorism and others
Other ministers who briefed the Vice President were the Ministers of Education and Science and Technology.
The memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the relationship was signed in March.
