Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have taken significant steps toward implementing a landmark economic cooperation agreement signed at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) held in Abuja in June 2025.
Officials from both countries met in Cotonou from August 1 to 2, 2025, to fine-tune the operational framework of the agreement, which is expected to deepen bilateral trade, harmonize customs processes, and drive regional integration.
Speaking during the high-level engagement, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the initiative as a major milestone in regional diplomacy and economic collaboration. She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight in convening the WAES, which she said is already producing tangible results.
“The frequency and depth of our engagements at the highest political levels underscore the strategic nature of our relationship,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated. “The recent efforts of Presidents Tinubu and Patrice Talon to recalibrate our bilateral cooperation demonstrate a shared political will to resolve longstanding issues and usher in a new era of mutual prosperity.”
She noted that both nations are not only linked by geography but also by shared history, culture, and commerce. While acknowledging challenges such as cross-border crimes and smuggling, she emphasized that cooperation and dialogue remain the most effective tools for progress.
“Our shared successes affirm a truth we must never lose sight of: that cooperation, not conflict; dialogue, not suspicion, remain our best tools for overcoming obstacles,” she said.
The Minister also congratulated the Republic of Benin on its 65th Independence anniversary, describing the timing of the talks as symbolic and inspiring.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, who presented the resolutions from the meeting, disclosed that the economic pact will focus on four thematic areas: trading services and private sector engagement, market access, customs procedures and trade facilitation, and transport infrastructure and storage. She added that technical working groups have been established and will submit progress reports in Abuja in the coming weeks.
Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with Nigeria.
Also present at the meeting were Benin’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Mrs. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman; Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi; and senior officials from both countries, including Amb. Regina Ocheni and Amb. Innocent Iwejuo.
The meeting marked a decisive step toward translating diplomatic intentions into practical cooperation, with both sides pledging to promote legitimate trade, align customs frameworks, and encourage private sector participation in the regional economic agenda.
