Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday in Addis Ababa backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on border closure, urging Benin Republic to change its ways for a harmonious bilateral relationship with Nigeria.
Obasanjo, speaking at a news briefing on the margins of Policy Dialogue of African Business Associations on Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreements, said: “It happened when I was President of Nigeria. I called the then Benin President, Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo, to let us meet at any of our border posts over the issue.
“We eventually met at Badagry (in Nigeria), where we agreed that Nigerian Customs would be stationed in Benin.
Obasanjo called for more actions, beyond words, adding that with fragmented 55 markets, Africa would remain small player in global market place.
AU Commissioner, Department of Trade and Industry, Mr. Albert Muranga called for a change of attitude on the continent if the goals of AfCFTA was to be attained.
“A new mindset is necessary. One country should not be going west and the other going east. All of us should be going in one direction.
“For AfCFTA and our dreams of African integration to meet with success, it requires cooperation from all stakeholders,” he said.
Muranga also restated the fears as espoused by members of the organised private sector on the dangers ahead of AfCFTA, assuring that such fears also enjoy the attention of the framers of the AfCFTA initiaive.
According to him, such fears include stability, predictability, fairness, corruption and enabling environment.
Other participants included the Co-chair of the Executive Committee, AfroChampion Initiative, Dr Edem Adzogenu, and Chief Economist/Director, Research and International Cooperation, AFREXIMBANK, Dr Hippolyte Fofack.
Also present were the Director General of Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Amb. Ayo Olukanni, and AfDB Country Manager, Ethiopia, Dr Abdul Kamara, among others.
Obasanjo called for more actions, beyond words, adding that with fragmented 55 markets, Africa would remain small player in global market place.
AU Commissioner, Department of Trade and Industry, Mr. Albert Muranga called for a change of attitude on the continent if the goals of AfCFTA was to be attained.
“A new mindset is necessary. One country should not be going west and the other going east. All of us should be going in one direction.
“For AfCFTA and our dreams of African integration to meet with success, it requires cooperation from all stakeholders,” he said.
Muranga also restated the fears as espoused by members of the organised private sector on the dangers ahead of AfCFTA, assuring that such fears also enjoy the attention of the framers of the AfCFTA initiaive.
According to him, such fears include stability, predictability, fairness, corruption and enabling environment.
Other participants included the Co-chair of the Executive Committee, AfroChampion Initiative, Dr Edem Adzogenu, and Chief Economist/Director, Research and International Cooperation, AFREXIMBANK, Dr Hippolyte Fofack.
Also present were the Director General of Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Amb. Ayo Olukanni, and AfDB Country Manager, Ethiopia, Dr Abdul Kamara, among others.
– Nation
