Nigeria, Algeria Strengthen Ties

By Dipo Olowookere

Nigeria and Algeria are to resuscitate the Bi-National Commission and the several economic agreements between the two countries.

Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, made this known after the meeting the Algerian President, Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

“We discussed a very wide, variety of issues. As you know, Nigeria and Algeria have had very strong relations over the years and we are also partners in the Bi-National Commission. We are resuscitating that Commission…I am sure some of you are aware of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, as well as the Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic projects. These are some of the economic issues we are looking at,” he said.

He further disclosed that the Algerian President pledged his country’s support for Nigeria in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists’ group.

“We also discussed issues of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, which of course is an important issue in Africa. Mr President has expressed a very strong support for the fight against Boko Haram and we intend to cooperate in the months and years ahead to ensure that we defeat terrorism in Africa,” the Vice President stated.

Nigeria’s Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadija Ibrahim said Professor Osinbajo’s visit would strengthen ties between the two countries.

“The visit is aimed at fostering good trade relationships and also other benefit to both countries,” she said told newsmen.

Mrs Ibrahim said that both countries were committed to the sustenance of the relationship they have built over the years.

“Our diplomatic relationship was established since 1962 and since then the relationship has grown stronger by the day. There is also a Bi-National Commission in which many Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed in the past. Some are now at the implementation stage, while others are yet to be implemented,” Mrs Ibrahim explained.