Republic of Benin
Republic of Benin with Nigeria alligns. Nigeria and neighboring Benin Republic have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation ahead of the next regular session of the Economic Community of West African States on December 10, 2023.
President Bola Tinubu made the pledge on Wednesday during a meeting with his Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon, at the State House in Abuja.
“We will support all of our private-sector interests in order to promote prosperity in both of our vital countries.” “We are all in this together,” Tinubu told Talon, who was in Abuja to seek Nigeria’s assistance in improving economic relations.
“Cooperation is essential for economic prosperity in West Africa, with a lack of synergy between Nigeria and the Benin Republic being an impediment to mutual development,” said Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
The announcement is headlined ‘President Tinubu receives President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic, says cooperation is essential for West African economic success.’
Tinubu compared Nigeria and Benin Republic to conjoined twins linked at the hip, saying the two countries had a lot in common.
“We are one. No other nation like ours should be worried. What is affecting us is a lack of synergy. We have not developed the necessary economic synergy that will develop our two nations. We must have common economic principles and priorities.
“I welcome the economic program you are developing through inter-ministerial collaboration.” I admire your sense of urgency, which we appreciate. Urgency is sometimes used to define leadership.
“I appreciate your excellent leadership. We’re all together. I am not a person who looks back. I’m looking forward to it. “This is how I avoid missing steps,” explained the President.
Talon emphasized the importance of his country’s connection with Nigeria.
He stated that the Benin Republic wishes to strengthen trade links with Nigeria, emphasizing the free movement of people and goods between the two countries.
Talon disclosed that the country has began pursuing a national development strategy that includes improved integration between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.
“Our development plan includes taking into account what investments are required in Benin to enhance our trade integration with Nigeria,” he explained.
“Many agreements have been signed to advance our integration, but they have not been implemented.”
“At the level of ECOWAS, we embrace free movement and integration, and at the African level, AfCFTA envisages this; so, we need to move urgently to make this a reality.”
He stated that ECOWAS’ investment program should be amended to include all aspects of the Nigerian economy.
This would be accomplished by forming an inter-ministerial technical group to create a draft document for West African state legislatures.
“I am ready to sign an executive order to appoint members of the council to advance mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors,” Talon said in a statement.
While there have been bilateral issues on the subject of smuggling, he assured Tinubu that leaders “will work hard to coordinate and ensure that your interests are protected as we integrate our economies.” I want us to go down in history as a team.”
Talon is paying Tinubu a visit at the State House for the second time in less than six months.
The Béninois leader was in Abuja on July 26, 2023, to discuss rising challenges in the West African sub-region.
He had addressed with Tinubu, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, efforts to reestablish a democratic regime in Mali, Guinea Bissau, and Burkina Faso, all of which had experienced coups in the previous two years. Both leaders also discussed the coup in Niger.
The Presidency of Côte d’Ivoire stated on November 29 that the “next ordinary summit” of ECOWAS “will take place on December 10 in Abuja,” the Nigerian capital.
This followed a meeting in Abidjan between Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray.