On Tuesday, a delegation including the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun; Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Bashiru Adewale Adeniyi; and Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, convened in Benin Republic for bilateral discussions on free trade movements.
The confidential meeting took place at Anguwar Sule Wara, a border town on the Benin Republic side.
Following the meeting, Yusuf Tuggar briefed the press, explaining that the consultative forum was initiated under the directives of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Benin President Patrice Talon.
The goal was to establish a unified approach to fostering an unhindered trade relationship between the two nations.
Held at the Segbana border post, the meeting aimed to revitalize the border crossing between Tsamiya in Nigeria and Anguwar Sule Wata in Benin Republic through infrastructural development, aligning with President Tinubu’s renewed hope initiative.
The discussions also focused on enhancing social and economic interactions and expanding trade and commerce between the citizens of both countries.
Tuggar noted significant progress in strengthening the relationship between the two West African nations.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi highlighted that the meeting was a step forward in advancing regional integration fostered by both Presidents.
“For the past six months, the Nigeria Customs Service has been working together with the Customs Service of Benin Republic towards bringing the economies of both nations closer together through easy border crossing and bringing back to life the border post at Tsamiya in Nigeria and Anguwar Sule Wara in Benin Republic.
“One of our challenges is infrastructure which we have embarked on an improvement of facilities at the border for easy access of entry between the citizens of the two countries,” he said.
Other officials at the meeting include Mr Romuald Wadagni, Senior Minister, Benin Republic Ministry of Economy and Finance and Cooperation; Mr Olushegun Adjadi-Bakaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin Republic and Mrs Adidjatou Hassan, General Director of the Benin Republic Customs Service, among others.
Governor Nasir Idris was accompanied by the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government (SSG) Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida; Head of Service, Alhaji Sufyanu Garba Bena; some commissioners; Special Advisers and top government officials.
