The Republic of Benin and Nigeria need one another, particularly when it comes to trade, security, and border controls, according to President Bola Tinubu, who made the statement on Friday in Paris.
“We must acknowledge that we are interdependent. After the summit on the new global financing pact, Tinubu welcomed Patrice Talon, the president of the Benin Republic, and declared, “We are in a loop and nobody should separate us.”
This information was provided by Dele Alake, the President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, in a statement he penned late on Friday under the title “Africa remains the centrepiece of Nigeria’s economic and foreign policy, says President Tinubu in Paris.”
Tinubu assured Talon that his administration will always be open and accessible to all neighbouring countries, comparing Nigeria’s relations with Benin to those of Siamese twins joined at the hips and supported by other friendly countries.
Just 48 hours prior to the meeting, Ibrahim Musa, the Director of Road Transport in the Ministry of Transportation, revealed that the Federal Government had approved the reopening of the Seme border for the importation of vehicles.
Nigeria’s border with Benin is where the town of Seme Border is located.
Beyond being a significant player in the region, he asserted that Nigeria would keep African nations at the centre of its economic and foreign policy strategies, noting that trade, security, and border controls would all be implemented in concert.
Informing Talon of his most recent effort to strengthen border security with the West African nation, Tinubu said, “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.”
The President stated that there will be increased bilateral ties with African nations, particularly at the subregional level, for mutual gains in the fields of security, health, energy, education, and diplomacy.
“We are willing to mend fences. Nigeria’s foreign policy has been centred on Africa.
“I have faith in Africa. We have a need to expand across the continent. Africa has been left behind as the global economy sways, claimed Tinubu.
He bemoaned the fact that because of its high risk rating, Africa must pay “higher interest rates on borrowing.”
“We are consistently categorised as high risk. For sustained recovery and growth, we must cooperate, he added.
Talon replied that President Tinubu’s inauguration in Abuja had given him renewed hope for the continent and the subregion. He promised to support trade and security policy, particularly at the borders.
“Your Excellency, we are ready to collaborate with you in putting into place measures that will safeguard our economies at land and sea entries. Everything that is prohibited in Nigeria will also be prohibited in Benin, he continued.
Additionally, President Tinubu met privately with both Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, and Swiss President Alain Berset.
