‎By Oscar Chukwugekwu

‎Nigeria and Senegal have pledged to resuscitate their Joint Commission by exploring opportunities to deepen collaboration between the two countries.

‎This is contained in a statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja.

‎Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, and Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister, Cheikh Niang, made the commitment during a bilateral meeting at the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

‎It quoted Enikanolaiye as describing the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Senegal as excellent, adding that the meeting was designed to deepen the brotherly ties between the two countries.

‎He explained that resuscitating the Joint Commission would create a platform to explore further opportunities for collaboration that could benefit Nigerians and Senegalese, the statement said.

‎The minister emphasised the importance of closer communication, free from bureaucracy, between ministers, saying such communication would foster collaboration and consultation on both bilateral and multilateral issues.

‎He underscored the need to improve trade and commerce between the two countries, noting that the excellent political relations between them should translate into economic benefits for the people.

‎Niang congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment and appreciated his kind gesture of initiating closer collaboration with him.

‎The minister described Enikanolaiye’s engagement during the Council of Ministers’ meeting as knowledge-based and expertise-driven, acknowledging that such qualities were needed in regional engagements.

‎He added that Mr Enikanolaiye’s initiative of engaging with him would enhance collaboration and consultation on issues of mutual interest between Nigeria and Senegal, the statement said.

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