THE
PRESS RELEASE BY AMBASSADOR OGUNTUASE KAYODE ON THE FORTH-COMING BILATERAL
MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN AND BENINESE ADVOCACY GROUP FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE PERMANENT NIGERIA AND BENIN REPUBLIC JOINT COMMISSION ON TUESDAY 24TH
OCTOBER, 2023.
-
Ladies and
Gentlemen
It affords me great pleasure today, Tuesday,
24th October, 2023 to address this Press Conference with the objective of
informing the people and particularly the press media that the Nigeria Advocacy
Group for the establishment of the Permanent Nigeria and Benin Republic Joint
Commission will be hosting on 15th and 16th November, 2023 a bilateral meeting
between with its Beninese counterpart at the Fam Embassy Suites Badagry,
Nigeria. The bilateral meeting is to raise awareness and advocate for the
necessity of establishing a Permanent Nigeria and Benin Republic Joint Commission among the citizens of Nigeria and Benin
Republic and more importantly, motivate, encourage and push the two governments
of Nigeria and Benin-Republic to urgently consider the establishment of a
Permanent Joint Commission between the two countries with the objective of
establishing an enduring and robust strategic relation between Nigeria and Benin
Republic. The meeting is to create a synergy and collaboration among the
private economic stakeholders of Nigeria and Benin – Republic who are earnestly
yearning for strengthening and deepening socio- cultural and economic
integration between the two countries through the establishment of a Permanent
Joint Commission
2 The
bilateral meeting of the advocacy groups of the two countries are significant
because it will ultimately lead to increased awareness among the governments
and citizens of the two brotherly countries on the need to establish a
Permanent Joint Commission between Nigeria and Benin Republic with a view to
promoting more robust and enduring collaborations and cooperation between the
two countries. This Bilateral meeting is expected to attract participants from
the top government officials, economic stakeholders, traditional rulers,
community leaders, civil society organizations, border security personnel and
experts as well as civil society
organizations that operate along the border corridors of the six Nigerian
states sharing borders with Benin – Republic, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara,
Niger and Kebbi. Similarly, stakeholders from the five (5) Beninese provinces
that also share borders with Nigeria have also been invited for the meeting.
This among others include: eighteen (18) Beninese Mayors, economic operators
and traditional / religions leaders.
3 The highlights of issues to be discuss
during the forthcoming bilateral meeting among others include:
(i)
Visions and
Missions of Establishing the Permanent Joint Commission
(ii)
The aims and
objectives of the proposed Permanent Joint Commission
(iii)
Benefits of
Establishing the Joint Commission
(iv)
Challenges/Problems
that may likely face the establishment of the Permanent Joint Commission
(v)
Key and
critical issues to consider while establishing Joint Commission
(vi)
Protocol and
Procedures for Establishing the Commission
(vii)
Statute of Commission
for cooperation
(viii)
Promoting cross
border socio- Economic integration
(ix)
Challenges of
cross- border security
(x)
Convention
establishing the Commission
4
It is significant to recall that on 13th
August, 2021 in Badagry, Lagos- State some Nigerian Private Economic
Stakeholders drawn from the six Nigerian states sharing borders with Benin
Republic, formed an advocacy group calling for the establishing of a Permanent
Joint Commission between Nigeria and Benin Republic. The Advocacy group has
held consultative meetings with key Nigerian Government Ministries and Agencies
including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Import and export
Promotion Council and the Development Agenda for the Western Nigeria (DAWN).
5 The
issue of establishing a Permanent Joint Commission between Nigeria and Benin
Republic is quite apt and important considering the closeness and proximity of
the two countries as well as the existing political, economic and
socio-cultural ties between Nigeria and Benin
Republic.
Indeed, The current cordiality and closeness between President Tinubu and the Beninese
President, patrice TALON Will Enhance The Establishment of A Permanent Joint
Commission Between Nigeria And Benin Republic. The geo-strategic importance of both countries
to their existential
realities cannot be over-emphasized. It is significant to note that Nigeria
and Benin share about 778kilometres of land and
maritime borders with six
States in Nigeria; including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Niger and Kebbi; as
well as five departments in Benin Republic; namely the Atlantic/Littoral,
Queme/Plateau, Zou, Collins and Borgu. Consequently, six common ethnic
groups from both countries have, since the pre-colonial period continued to
interact and interface culturally and socio-economically. The people of the
two countries have been relating extensively and interacting socially as well
economically with one another.
4. Given the closeness and proximity of Nigeria and Benin, there are
huge socio- cultural cum economic interactions between the two countries.
Indeed, the common borders and ethno-cultural affinities existing between
the two countries have boosted and enhanced trans-border trade and other
socio-cultural engagements among the people of both countries.
Consequently, the people of Nigeria and Benin Republic are desirous to
enhance and deepen the ties of fraternity and friendship as well as support
all levels of cooperation between the two countries. permanent joint Nigeria
and Benin in Badagry on 13th August, 2021.
4. The joint commission will be charged with the responsibility of
formulating the required basis to strengthen the relations between Nigeria
and Benin Republic, particularly in the field of, trade, economy, investment,
energy, culture, human resources, skills science &technology, information
technology, innovation, education, security and defence. The joint
commission will also review agreements concluded in the past between the
two countries and equally find suitable solutions for any issue in their
implementation.
5. The joint commission is expected to
leverage and transform the existing relations between the two countries into
the level of strategic partnership which will manifest itself in building
robust and sustainable people to people and business to business relations
among the people of Nigeria and Benin Republic. The Commission will also strive
towards enhancing and advancing the two countries and shared priorities which
among others include 'promoting socio-economic integration of the two
countries, encourage and increase formal and legitimate trade and investments
between the countries; develop a solid economic cooperation between Nigeria and
Benin Republic through the Co-Prosperity, Alliance Zone (COPAZ), strengthen the
fight against tran border crimes and terrorism and promote the economic prosperity
and security of the prosperous Lagos-Abidjan corridor".
6. The future of Nigeria and Benin Republic economic relations hinge on
adopting strategies geared towards improving and deepening the economic
integration of the two countries as well as sustaining and preserving
complementarities of their economies. Therefore, establishing bilateral
cooperation mechanisms such as the Permanent Joint Commission
between Nigeria and Benin will further ensure and guarantee that the
various bilateral cooperation agreements concluded between the two
countries are effectively and efficiently implemented. The Permanent Joint
Commission will also set up structures and mechanisms for Consultation,
Collaboration and Consensus among the Chambers of commerce and the
economic stakeholders/actors of both Nigeria and Benin Republic.
7. In addition, establishing the Permanent Joint Commission will further
enhance the creation of cross-border cooperation associations involving
economic actors who are active in the border corridors, in order to better
secure and facilitate the movements of goods and people.
8. No doubt, the economic relations between Nigeria and Benin
Republic will be more dynamic, strategic and robust with the establishment
of a Permanent Joint Commission between the two countries.
Consequently, all stake-holders in Nigeria and Benin relations including
governments, technocrats, economic actors,' civil society groups, traditional
rulers and the medias; should collaborate and work relentlessly towards the
establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission between Nigeria and Benin
Republic.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live the Republic of Benin.
Thank you all.
PREPARED BY:
AMBASSADOR OGUNTUASE KAYODE;
CHAIRMAN NIGERIA NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE
OF THE PROPOSED NIGERIA AND BENIN REPUBLIC
PERMANENT JOINT COMMISSION
