From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The Foreign Ministers of Nigeria and Benin Republic have held bilateral talks on improving free flow of trade and commerce.
Speaking after the joint meeting held at a Benin Republic house border located at Tsamiya, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the consultative forum was based on order by President Bola Tinubu and President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic to strengthen social and economic interaction as well as expand trade and commerce between the citizens of the two nations.
“The meeting at the Segbana border post in Benin Republic is aimed at bringing the border crossing between Tsamiya in Nigeria and Anguwar Sule Wata in Benin Republic back to life through infrastructure development inline with the renewed hope initiative of President Tinubu,” he said.
Tugger said further progress had been made on strengthening relations between the two sister West African nations.
In his remarks, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale-Adeniyi, said the meeting was to advance the course of regional integration between the two countries already created by the two 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 through easy border crossing and bringing back to life the border posts at Tsamiya and Anguwar Sule Wara.
“One of our challenges is infrastructure which we have embarked on improvement of facilities at the border for easy access of entry between the citizens of the nations,” he said.
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi thanked the presidents of the two countries for resuscitating free flow of trade and transportation of goods to various destinations within the two countries.
“Kebbi State has maintained good neighbourliness with the Republic of Benin beneficial to both border communities and other residents on economic activities and social interaction,” he said.