Nigeria and The Gambia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations, with both countries agreeing to revive the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The resolution was reached during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and Gambian Foreign Minister, Sering Modou Njie, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Enikanolaiye described the relationship between the two West African nations as longstanding and cordial, stressing Nigeria’s readiness to deepen existing ties.
He said reviving the Joint Commission would provide both countries with an opportunity to strengthen collaboration in strategic sectors and advance shared development goals.
“The Nigeria-Gambia bilateral relations have been excellent over the years.
“We intend to enhance and deepen the brotherly ties between our two countries and further explore opportunities for collaboration to the mutual benefit of Nigeria and The Gambia,” Enikanolaiye said.
Responding, Njie expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued support to The Gambia, particularly during the country’s 2017 political impasse, which he said helped restore constitutional order and stability.
He also congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment and welcomed Nigeria’s renewed commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation.
“The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role the country played during the political impasse experienced in 2017.
“The political stability and current development in The Gambia are attributable to Nigeria’s timely intervention, a feat that remains indelible in the history of our country,” he said.
The Gambian minister further acknowledged Nigeria’s contributions through the deployment of Technical Aid Corps volunteers, its support for the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia, and the training of Gambian military personnel in Nigerian military institutions.
Enikanolaiye, in turn, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting African unity and development, noting that the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps remains a key platform for supporting manpower development across Africa and the Caribbean.
“Nigeria remains committed to promoting pan-African unity, solidarity and development, especially through the framework of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.
“The programme enables Nigeria to deploy highly qualified professionals to African and Caribbean countries to support manpower development,” he said.
Both ministers agreed that reactivating the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission would create a formal platform to review existing agreements, revive inactive areas of cooperation and identify new opportunities to strengthen relations between the two countries.
