Date Published: 10/07/11

Nigeria, Ethiopia enter into agreement to revitalise Bilateral Commission

President, Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Menes Zenawi on Friday in Addis-Ababa reached an agreement to revitalise the Nigeria –Ethiopia Bilateral Commission.

Both leaders disclosed this at a joint news conference they addressed after a closed door meeting at the Presidential Palace in Addis-Ababa.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan arrived in Addis-Ababa on Thursday, for a two-day official visit to the country.

Responding to questions from newsmen, Jonathan said his visit to Ethiopia was to discuss regional interests particularly as it concerns the problems in Africa and take steps to revitalise the Bi-national Commission between Nigeria and Ethiopia.

``We want to strengthen the Bi-lateral Commission because bilateral commissions are quite critical and they help to quickly smoothen areas that are perceived to be grey like visa issues, resident permits, business interest among others.

``We will encourage regular meetings by the Bi-lateral Commission because Ethiopia and Nigeria need to work together.

``We are looking at areas of Bi-lateral Air Service Agreement with Ethiopia because Ethiopian Airline is one of the best airlines working well in Africa. We need to encourage top business men in Africa to do good business across the continent.

``We go to Europe, America, Asia and China to invite business men to invest in our country, we should be able to invite Africans to invest in all sector because Nigeria has opened up all sectors for private participation and we will encourage Africans to invest,’’ he said.

Jonathan said he was accompanied on the trip by business mogul, Aliko Dangote because of the need to encourage trade and business relation between both nations.

NAN reports that Dangote is setting up a multi-billionan dollar cement factory in Ethiopia and he had earlier signed an agreement with the Ethiopian government

Speaking, Zenawi said there were huge opportunities for the ``vibrant Nigeria private sector’’ to invest in Ethiopia and that his government was willing to encourage them.

The Prime Minister also called on Dangote not to limit his investments to only cement, but explore other investment opportunities in Ethiopia adding that he would be ready to assist him.

He said apart from the meeting of the Commission, he would be visiting Nigeria in the next few months on the invitation of Jonathan.

NAN reports that before the meeting Jonathan had earlier met with the Chairman of AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping where issues concerning the Union were discussed.

NAN also reports that the President had left for Ghana on an official visit.

(NAN)