Nigeria, Ethiopia to revitalise Bilateral Commission

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan being welcome by Ethiopian Government officials

Nigeria, Ethiopia to revitalise Bilateral Commission

 
Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Menes Zenawi have reached an agreement to revitalise the Nigeria–Ethiopia Bilateral Commission.

Both leaders stated this at a joint news conference they addressed after a closed door meeting at the Presidential Palace in Addis-Ababa.

President Jonathan arrived in Addis-Ababa on Thursday, for a two-day official visit.

Jonathan said his visit to Ethiopia was to discuss regional interests particularly as it concerns the problems in Africa and take steps to revitalise the Bi-national Commission between Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Areas of Bi-lateral agreement

He pointed out that there was need to strengthen the Bi-lateral Commission, which he said had proved to be quite critical in smoothening areas that were perceived to be grey like visa issues, resident permits, business interest among others.

“We will encourage regular meetings by the Bi-lateral Commission because Ethiopia and Nigeria need to work together.

“We are looking at areas of Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Ethiopia because Ethiopian Airline is one of the best airlines working well in Africa. We need to encourage top business men in Africa to do good business across the continent.

“We go to Europe, America, Asia and China to invite business men to invest in our country, we should be able to invite Africans to invest in all sector because Nigeria has opened up all sectors for private participation and we will encourage Africans to invest,’’ he said.

Jonathan noted that he was accompanied on the trip by business mogul, Aliko Dangote because of the need to encourage trade and business relation between both nations.

Friendly investment environment

Dangote, who had earlier signed an agreement with the Ethiopian government, is setting up a multi-billion dollar cement factory in Ethiopia.

Zenawi said there were huge opportunities for the “vibrant Nigeria private sector’’ to invest in Ethiopia and that his government was willing to encourage them.

The Prime Minister also called on Dangote not to limit his investments to only cement, but explore other investment opportunities in Ethiopia pledging that he would be ready to assist him.

He said that apart from the meeting of the Commission, he would be visiting Nigeria in the next few months on the invitation of Jonathan.

Before the meeting, Jonathan had met with the Chairman of AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping where issues concerning the Union were discussed.

After the meeting, Dr Jonathan left for Ghana on an official visit.  

NAN/Williams