President Bola Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame held talks in Kigali aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and deepening regional cooperation.
Tinubu met Kagame at the Urugwiro presidential villa, according to a statement from presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. The Nigerian president is in Kigali for the Africa CEO Forum, which began on Thursday.
During the meeting, Tinubu said Nigeria would seriously consider reciprocating Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free policy for Nigerians, in line with the spirit of pan-Africanism. Rwanda is one of a handful of African Union member states that grants AU citizens a 30-day visa-free stay.
The two leaders also discussed ways to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Agreement between both countries, focusing on removing trade barriers for goods and services and supporting mobility that aids trade.
They stressed the need to revive the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission, signed in 2021, as a platform to advance shared objectives. Both agreed that Nigeria should host the next meeting of the commission.
Tinubu and Kagame also reviewed pending memoranda of understanding in tourism, illicit drugs, and anti-corruption. Discussions with RwandAir to create more export opportunities for Nigerian businesses across the continent are ongoing, the statement said.
Last year, Nigeria established an air cargo corridor with Uganda Airways as part of efforts to boost intra-African trade.
