Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria-Cote D’Ivoire bi-national commission will help stem youth migration by creating more jobs.
Gatekeepers News reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the need for Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire to continue to build closer economic ties and integrate, especially within the ambit of regional integration agreements like ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Prof. Osinbajo stressed this need in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, at the 2nd edition of the Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Bi-National Commission meeting which was held on Sunday.
The Nigerian Vice President co-chaired the meeting with the Ivorian Prime Minister, Patrick Jerome Achi, and also met the Ivorian President for other talks.
At the Bi-National Commission meeting, both countries signed a set of new Agreements which cover Agriculture; Digital Economy; Education; Consular and Immigration Matters; and prevention of Human Trafficking, amongst other very important areas of collaboration.
Osinbajo added that these ties will create more jobs for its youths while deepening bilateral ties between both countries
During the meeting, Osinbajo extended Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s greetings and appreciation to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, for his friendship and positive disposition towards strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
The VP said, “We should put in place arrangements that enable value addition within and between our countries so that we can create the much-needed jobs for our young people and stem the irregular migration to other parts of the world where they are often mistreated and used for menial tasks.
“They will certainly go a very long way to promoting the much desired and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries in accordance with the guidance given to us by both President Buhari and President Ouattara.”
Osinbajo while noting that Nigeria values its close ties with Cote d’Ivoire stated that “these integration agreements must be seen as an opportunity that goes beyond trade, but one that helps to deepen regional value chains, instead of exporting raw commodities.”
The Vice President while highlighting the significance of the 2nd session of the Bi-National Commission, noted that it was an opportunity to also further strengthen and diversify both countries’ bilateral ties.
Osinbajo said, “Our shared values of democracy, protection of human rights, and our aspirations for peace, progress, and prosperity must continue to be the guiding principles for our cooperation for mutual benefit and for the well-being of West Africa.
“In agriculture, for instance, Cote d’Ivoire is a leading producer of key commodities like cocoa and coffee, which are crops that Nigeria also produces, and there is certainly great scope for learning and collaborating in the international trade of these commodities.
“In the same vein, given the large number of Nigerians who have made their home here, it is important that both countries cooperate closely on consular matters. We must also work closely together to tackle the evil practice of human trafficking which seems to be on the rise in this sub-region.”
According to him, as two of the largest economies in ECOWAS, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire are duty-bound to cooperate in the interests of its citizens and the rest of the sub-region.
The Nigerian Vice President further spoke, “Furthermore, we look forward to closer military cooperation between our two countries so that working together we can help to maintain the peace and security of our countries and neighbourhood. With peace, businesses will thrive; so we are very much looking forward to the convening of the Business Forum leg of this Bi-National Commission.
“In this regard, it is my sincere wish that the holding of the Business Forum will lead to the establishment of a Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Business Council.”
According to him “such close ties between the business sectors of both countries also mean that we should move speedily to finalize negotiations on an avoidance of double taxation agreement and to review our Bilateral Air Services Agreement so as to facilitate movement of people and cargo between both countries.”
Osinbajo, on behalf of the Nigerian government, thanked the Ivorian government for its support for the candidacy of two Nigerians: Dr Akinwunmi Adesina for a second term in office as President of the African Development Bank (with head office in Abidjan); and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
Earlier in his address, the Ivorian Prime Minister, Patrick Achi said he was excited that both countries had agreed to reactivate the Bi-National Commission.
Achi said the meeting was an ideal platform to improve the quality of trade cooperation between both countries and the ECOWAS region, as this would also address common interests and challenges in areas of security, oil, and energy, terrorism, among others.
The Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Bi-National Commission, which was established in 2013, is a reflection of the fraternal and cordial relations that exist between both countries regarded as the biggest economies in West Africa.
The maiden edition of the Commission, which took place in Abuja in August 2013, led to the signing of six sectoral Agreements, as well as the establishment of Special Implementation Committees in both countries to monitor progress.
At the bilateral meeting with the Ivorian President, Prof. Osinbajo expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality accorded him and the Nigerian government delegation to the Bi-National Commission meeting which had started on Thursday.
Osinbajo while expressing optimism about the results expected from the work of the Bi-National Commission expressed the hope that Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire’s security forces will continue to work together to improve security in the Sahel region and the sub-region. He expressed similar expectations for all other areas of cooperation between both countries.
The Vice President was accompanied to the meetings by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada; Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu; and Nigeria’s Envoy to Ivory Coast, Martin Adamu.
