Nigeria and Benin Republic on Tuesday agreed to strengthen the economic and security cooperation between them.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his Benin Republic counterpart, Boni Yayi, addressed a joint press briefing after a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The two leaders agreed to promote efforts towards regional integration as they pledged to continue to put in place necessary mechanisms to further strengthen regional integration under the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the Co-Prosperity Alliance Zone (COPAZ).
President Buhari expressed satisfactions with Benin Republic for identifying with current efforts at fighting terrorism under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
He said: “We are happy to inform you that we have identified our problems, the correct priorities for Nigeria firstly is the security of the country and then the economy.
“Nigeria being the main battle ground for Boko Haram and under the auspices of Lake Chad Basin Commission we have agreed on what contributions the countries will make, that is of Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria.
“I have to thank most sincerely, the President of Benin for identifying himself with the immediate Lake Chad Basin Commission group to make their contribution. We are doing our best under the circumstances in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, President Boni Yayi commended the leadership role of President Buhari in the ongoing war against terrorism, especially the Boko Haram insurgency.
He harped on the need for the two countries to galvanize other ECOWAS member States to put in place necessary mechanism to strengthen regional integration within the sub-region.
