Kenya, Nigeria sign agreements to bolster bilateral cooperation

By PSCU

Abuja, Nigeria: President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday at State House Abuja, Nigeria witnessed the signing of three bilateral agreements to help boost ties between the two countries.

The agreements were signed by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretaries Amb Amina Mohamed and her Nigerian counterpart Mr Olugbenga Ashiru.

The three agreements signed are on the establishment of a Joint Commission for Cooperation, a Protocol on consultations between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Kenya and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an MOU on mutual cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute of Kenya and the Foreign Service Academy of Nigeria.

The agreements establish an enabling framework for enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in diverse areas of mutual interest including trade, tourism, education, technical cooperation and high level diplomatic engagements.

Earlier, the two leaders held bilateral talks on a wide range of issues pertaining to mutual cooperation between the two countries as well as matters of regional and international concern.

In a communique read by Ashiru, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further develop and strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two countries.

The two leaders agreed on implementation of strategies directed at promoting intra-Africa trade and investment in their respective countries including in the areas of agriculture, tourism, minerals exploitation, financial services, education and energy.

The leaders noted that harnessing the enormous potential existing in these sectors will facilitate creation of employment and sustainable business opportunities.

President Kenyatta and his host further agreed to establish structures to manage information and encourage more direct contact between competent authorities in the two countries with a view to combating international terrorism and other international crime such bas drug trafficking and  money laundering.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional, global and multilateral issues.

To this end, Kenya reiterated her support for Nigeria’s candidature for the position of non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council for the period 2014-2015.

Nigeria on her part undertook to support Kenya’s candidature for the same seat for the period 2017-2018.

Earlier President Kenyatta separately met and held talks with Ethiopian Premier Hailemariam Desalegn and Vice President of Ghana Kwesi Amissah-Urthur on the sidelines of the Abuja +12 Summit at Abuja International Conference Center.

The talks focused on matters of mutual interest both at the bilateral and regional levels.

In attendance were Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Tom Amolo and Principal Secretary Foreign Affairs Karanja Kibichu among senior government officials.