9 Years After, Nigeria Hosts 2nd Nigeria-Saudi Joint Commission in Abuja
Princess-Ekwi Ajide (ABS Abuja Bureau Chief)
The governments of Nigeria and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are brainstorming in Abuja on how best to strengthen all aspects of their longstanding bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits
The Nigeria-Saudi Joint Commission which the first session held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March, 2013 came into being following the signing of a General Agreement for Cooperation between the countries on 20th October, 2003 aimed at promoting mutually beneficial cooperation for both parties.
Addressing the assemblage, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, told the guests that just as there are far reaching socio-economic transformation currently taking place in their country under Vision 2030, Nigeria is similarly pursuing a number of reforms aimed at liberalizing and digitalizing the economy as well as creating more opportunities for women and youths aimed at paving way for a more sustainable future.
He affirmed that Nigeria attaches great importance to her relations with the Kingdom, and is demonstrating her strong and unwavering commitment to further boosting and elevating the existing historical ties binding the two countries to a new height
According to him, a number of MoUs and Agreements covering various aspects of bilateral cooperation were signed by the two sides during the first session and by hosting the second session of the Joint Commission, Nigeria is affirming its determination to ensure that the relations are transformed into a win-win partnership for mutual benefits.
He expressed hope that the session would produce the desired positive outcome which will bring a new era in Nigeria-Saudi Cooperation as also create the necessary mechanism for the implementation of agreed frameworks with minimum delay.
For the Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister of the Environment, Water and Agriculture for Fisheries, Engineer Ahmed Elkhemshi, the second session is an extension of what was agreed in the first session and represents a practical approach in the path set for enhancing cooperation between the two countries as there are many opportunities for cooperation in various fields including trade, investment, and technology, among others.
According to him, the Nigeria-Saudi Joint Commission constitutes the effective tool in implementing the agreement and laying the specific foundation for enhancing economic, commercial, investment, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
He noted that emphasis must be given to activate the work of both the agreement and the joint commission through the development of effective mechanism and programmes to implement what emanates from the meetings of the Commission.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda while declaring open the two day meeting, charged delegates to work towards coming up with agreements that further solidify and strengthen relationship between the countries.
He stated that experts from the various ministries have been selected to deal with the agreements and have a second look at the agreements to settle whatever has prevented it from being signed before now.
