By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, security and regional development as both countries sought to deepen diplomatic and economic relations within West Africa.
This was the outcome of a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Kalilou Toure, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
During the talks, both countries reaffirmed their longstanding cordial relations and pledged to sustain regular diplomatic engagements at bilateral and multilateral levels, a statement by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa noted.
Discussions centred on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, industrial development, security, migration, culture and consular affairs, with both sides also exploring opportunities in cosmetics, perfumes, coffee production, petroleum products, technical partnerships and manufacturing.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described Côte d’Ivoire as one of Nigeria’s major trading partners in Africa and stressed the need to broaden economic collaboration into more strategic sectors capable of boosting regional growth and integration.
The meeting also reviewed existing Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries, with both parties expressing optimism that pending agreements would be reactivated and implemented during an upcoming bilateral session scheduled to hold in Côte d’Ivoire.
The minister further emphasised the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and institutional collaboration, particularly among governance and electoral bodies, in promoting democratic stability and good governance across the region.
On security, both countries reiterated their commitment to joint efforts against terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime in West Africa.
They also stressed the need for intelligence sharing, stronger defence cooperation and coordinated regional responses to emerging security threats.
The discussions additionally explored possible frameworks for prisoner transfer arrangements involving sentenced nationals in line with existing legal provisions and bilateral agreements.
