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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a deeper strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, stressing that stronger bilateral ties were essential to sustain economic and democratic gains across the West African sub-region.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of Beninois President, Romuald Wadagni, yesterday at the Presidential Palace in Cotonou, said the two countries share a common destiny rooted in history, culture, trade and collective responsibility for regional security.
“Our presence here in Cotonou underlines President Tinubu’s unwavering, deep-seated commitment to strengthening ties with our neighbours,” he said, stressing that Nigeria sees its relationship with Benin as strategic to regional integration and democratic stability within West Africa.
He described the Nigeria‑Benin relationship as one forged over centuries of social interaction and economic interdependence that transcend political boundaries. He highlighted the nearly 600‑kilometre border that links six Nigerian states to Benin and noted the cultural overlap between the two countries.
“Our border with the Benin Republic stretches across nearly 600 kilometres, spanning six Nigerian states, including Kebbi State. Our cultural and historical ties run deep; we intermarry and our communities overlap.
“There are Yoruba people on this side of the border just as there are in Nigeria. Benin has a Borgu Province, while we have a Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State. We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny,” he said.
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The vice president urged continued cooperation to promote democratic governance, peace and economic prosperity in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). “Because of this, we must show solidarity, empathy and active support towards strengthening democracy in West Africa,” he added.
Shettima provided economic context for the relationship, saying trade between the two countries currently hovers around $2 billion annually. He noted that about five million Nigerians live in Benin out of an estimated population of 15 million.
He also pointed to growing collaboration on border security, grassroots governance, trade facilitation and infrastructure under regional integration efforts. Last August, Nigeria and Benin formalised grassroots cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen ties among local governments, traditional rulers and border communities to tackle cross‑border crime and improve socio‑economic links.
The agreement, Shettima said, fostered direct cooperation between Nigerian border local government areas and neighbouring Beninois communities in towns such as Seme, Igbokofi and Ilara, yielding improvements in commercial activities, agriculture, infrastructure and local security coordination and opening new opportunities for businesses and residents.
He added that both countries were implementing ECOWAS trade frameworks, including the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme and common external tariff to improve the business environment and accelerate regional integration.
“As ECOWAS member states, both countries continue to uphold the protocol on free movement of persons, allowing citizens to stay within each other’s territories for up to 90 days without visa requirements,” Shettima said.
