Nigeria, Gambia Deepen Bilateral Ties, Revive Joint Commission

Nigeria and the Gambia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in key areas of mutual interest.

The renewed commitment was made during a bilateral meeting between the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, His Excellency Sering Modou Njie, on the sidelines of the ongoing ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye described relations between the two countries as cordial and longstanding, expressing Nigeria’s readiness to deepen the brotherly partnership through enhanced collaboration for the benefit of both nations.

In his remarks, the Gambian Foreign Minister congratulated Ambassador Enikanolaiye on his appointment and welcomed the initiative to strengthen engagement between the two countries.

He expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s contributions to The Gambia’s peace and stability, particularly its leadership during the country’s 2017 political impasse, noting that Nigeria’s intervention remains a significant milestone in The Gambia’s democratic journey.

Mr. Njie also commended Nigeria’s continued support through the Technical Aid Corps programme, which has provided skilled professionals in the education, health and legal sectors, as well as military assistance through the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) and the training of Gambian military personnel in Nigerian institutions.

Responding, Ambassador Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting African unity, solidarity and development, stressing that the Technical Aid Corps remains a key platform for supporting human capacity development across Africa and the Caribbean.

The two ministers agreed on the need to revive the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission to review existing agreements, revitalise dormant areas of cooperation and identify new opportunities for partnership.

The meeting underscores the commitment of both countries to further strengthen their longstanding diplomatic and strategic relationship.

PR/Uju Oparaji