Tinubu to Talon: Our Countries Are Conjoined Twins Held Together at Hip

•Flays lack of development synergy between Nigeria and Benin

•Republic   Beninese president advocates free movement of people, goods

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, likened the relationship between Nigeria and Benin Republic to the connection between conjoined twins held together at the hip. Tinubu made the assertion when he received President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic at State House, Abuja.

The Nigerian president stressed the need for cooperation for the economic prosperity of West Africa. He stated that lack of synergy between Nigeria and Benin Republic had been an encumbrance to mutual development.

Tinubu told Talon that the main reason he never missed his steps was that he always looked forward in all his undertakings.

Talon, who sought stronger trade ties with Nigeria, emphasised the imperative of free movement of people and goods between Benin Republic and Nigeria.

Tinubu told his Beninese counterpart, “We are one. No other nation like ours should be worried. What is affecting us is a lack of synergy. We have not developed the necessary economic synergy that will develop our two nations.

“We must have common economic principles and priorities. The economic programme you are developing through inter-ministerial collaboration is welcomed by me.

“We will support all of our private sector interests to facilitate prosperity in both of our important countries. I appreciate the urgency of your approach, and we welcome this. Leadership is sometimes defined by urgent action.

“Thank you for your quality leadership. We are together. I am not a backward looking person. I look forward. This is how I avoid missing steps.”

Earlier, Talon, who was at State House to seek Tinubu’s support in the improvement of trade relations, ahead of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Summit, described the relationship between his country and Nigeria as crucial.

He said, “Benin has started implementing a national development plan, which includes enhanced integration between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

“Our development plan includes taking into account what investments are required in Benin to enhance our integration with Nigeria in trade terms. It is true that many agreements have been signed to push our integration forward, but they have not been implemented.

“At the level of ECOWAS, we embrace free movement and integration, and at the African level, AfCFTA envisages this. So, we need to move urgently to make this a reality.

“Our investment programme must be revised to factor in all factors of the Nigerian economy. We seek to set up an inter-ministerial technical committee that will jointly prepare a draft document for our legislatures.”

Talon added, “I am ready to sign an executive order to appoint members of the council to advance mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.

“There have been difficulties bilaterally on the issue of smuggling. We will work hard to coordinate and ensure that your interests are protected as we integrate our economies. I want us to make history together.”

Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, had in August 2019 shut all Nigeria’s land borders in an effort to curtail smuggling of goods, especially, rice, and boost local production. Buhari reopened four of the border points in December 2020. Currently, five of the land borders have been opened.