Nigeria and The Gambia have agreed to deepen diplomatic and economic relations by reviving the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission to boost cooperation across several sectors.
The decision was reached during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, both countries expressed commitment to strengthening their long-standing relationship.
Speaking during the meeting, Enikanolaiye described relations between Nigeria and The Gambia as cordial and pledged to expand existing areas of cooperation.
“The Nigeria-Gambia bilateral relations have been excellent over the years.
“We intend to enhance and deepen the brotherly ties between our two countries and further explore opportunities for collaboration to the mutual benefit of Nigeria and The Gambia,” Enikanolaiye said.
Njie congratulated the Nigerian minister on his appointment and acknowledged Nigeria’s role in restoring stability to The Gambia during the country’s political crisis in 2017.
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“The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role the country played during the political impasse experienced in 2017.
“The political stability and current development in The Gambia are attributable to Nigeria’s timely intervention, a feat that remains indelible in the history of our country,” Njie said.
The Gambian minister also appreciated Nigeria’s continued assistance through the deployment of Technical Aid Corps volunteers, its contributions to the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia and the training of Gambian military personnel in Nigerian military institutions.
Responding, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would continue to promote African unity and development through regional partnerships.
“Nigeria remains committed to promoting pan-African unity, solidarity and development, especially through the framework of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.
“The programme enables Nigeria to deploy highly qualified professionals to African and Caribbean countries to support manpower development,” Enikanolaiye said.
Both ministers agreed that reactivating the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission would help review existing agreements, revive inactive areas of cooperation and identify fresh opportunities to strengthen ties between the two countries.