Jonathan heads to Niger, Mali on official visit

Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan will today pay a working visit to Niamey, Niger Republic, for a scheduled meeting of the High Authority of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.

Abati said Jonathan would join President Issoufou Mohammadou of Niger Republic in presiding over the meeting, and that the two leaders were working to revitalise and reposition the 41-year-old commission as a primary platform towards addressing emerging cross-border challenges.

He said issues to be considered include security, bilateral trade, health, energy and communications.

Abati noted that the convention, which established the Commission in 1971, gave the general and exclusive jurisdiction to identify ways and means of coordinating and harmonising the economies of the two countries in all fields with a view to achieving increased and more effective cooperation.

“Article 3 of the Convention also gives the Commission special responsibility for proposing to the two governments, measures and projects to be undertaken.

“This will result in a gradual establishment of a rational, harmonious and balanced cooperation capable of ensuring maximum development of the two countries at the least possible cost and with a minimum of delay.’’

He said the president would seize the opportunity of the visit to meet with Nigerians living in Niger Republic.

Abati said that on his way back on Friday the president would make a stopover in Bamako, the Malian capital, for further consultations on efforts by ECOWAS and the UN Security Council, to restore normalcy to that country. (NAN)