Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon move to deepen trade ties
By Vivian Emoni
Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Cameroon have reaffirmed commitment to strengthen trading mechanisms and boost economic growth across their borders.
Amb. Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated this at a Technical Workshop on “Support to Trade Cooperation among Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Cameroon,’’ on Thursday in Abuja.
Rimi, represented by Mr Mohammed Abbas, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, said the three countries already enjoy close relationships and must build on that for regional prosperity.
He said Nigeria remained committed to scaling up intra-African trade, particularly through the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Trade among us presents a unique and strategic pathway to shared prosperity. With our partners in Benin Republic and Cameroon, we not only share borders, but cultures and people. Accordingly, with the African Development Bank (AfDB), we have convened this workshop to jointly reflect on opportunities to deepen and refine our trading mechanisms,’’ he said.
Rimi expressed optimism that the workshop would yield concrete initiatives capable of attracting investments and advancing regional trade.
Also speaking, Dr Abdul Kamara, Director-General of the Nigeria Country Department, AfDB, said the meeting aligned with continental priorities of trade integration, policy harmonisation and infrastructure development.
Kamara, represented by Mr Ometere Omoluabi-Davies, AfDB Regional Integration Coordinator, commended Nigeria and Benin for progress in trade negotiations and called on Benin to ratify the AfCFTA agreement to consolidate regional integration gains.
He noted Cameroon’s participation in the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative, describing it as a step toward unlocking cross-regional trade potential between West and Central Africa.
“To date, the Bank has invested more than 55 billion dollars in trade-enabling infrastructure. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that enhance women and youth participation in the African market,’’ Kamara said.
Dr Fousseni Mama, Director of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Republic of Benin, said the workshop was meant to translate AfCFTA commitments into practical benefits for citizens.
“We are expecting that the meeting will yield a tangible outcome that will boost trading mechanisms across the continent,’’ he said. (NAN)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu
Published By
- Agriculture and Environment Desk Controller/Website Content Manager.
Has also recently published
Economy/BusinessAugust 30, 2025Japan affirms Afreximbank’s A- rating, stable outlook
ForeignAugust 30, 2025ECOWAS standby force requires $2.6bn for takeoff — Touray
General NewsAugust 29, 2025FG to recognise ‘panteka’, other Informal training hubs
Economy/BusinessAugust 29, 2025BPP urges emergence of procurement Lawyers to tackle corruption
