Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Paul Kagame have agreed to take bilateral ties between Nigeria and Rwanda to new heights with a pact on greater diplomacy and economic integration.
The two leaders met at the Urugwiro Presidential Villa following Tinubu’s arrival in Kigali for the Africa CEO Forum. Both presidents underscored the significance of revitalizing the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission (JPMC), signed between the two countries in 2021, and the need to bring its subsequent session to Nigeria as a means of consolidating ties and pursuing political and economic agendas.
President Tinubu stated that Nigeria might explore reciprocal visa-free access for Rwandans, akin to what currently obtains with Nigerians being granted visa-free entry into Rwanda. The presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, explained that this step is in tandem with the quest for continental African integration and the strengthening of the Pan-African movement.
Discussions also addressed issues related to the execution of pending Memoranda of Understanding in sectors such as tourism, anti-corruption and the combating of illicit drug trafficking.Both leaders further underscored the necessity of boosting trade through a functional African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).Their endorsement of the free trade area signifies their commitment to facilitating greater economic cooperation and connectivity within the continent.
The meeting between Presidents Tinubu and Kagame further highlights the intensified push by African leaders to foster regional ties and foster deeper integration between African countries through increased cross-border movements and robust intra-African trade.
