Africa: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari tips relationship with Ethiopia as key to African integration

It’s no longer news that the relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia is getting stronger by the day. What’s news is that the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has tipped this blossoming bilateral bond as the catalyst towards achieving African integration.

According to him, the relationship would concretize the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCTA).This was contained in an official release issued by the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and published by todaynewsafrica.com.

President Buhari made this disclosure during a state dinner in his honour recently in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. He stressed that the unifying factor between both countries is the fact that they are the most populous in Africa and therefore have similarities in challenges and therefore would explore all avenues necessary to strengthen the already growing relationship.

“Relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia have been warm and cordial since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1964
“Currently, a Ministerial joint commission meeting is taking place between Nigeria and Ethiopia to finalise documents for our consideration.

“I am confident that the meeting will produce a fruitful outcome which will elevate relations to a higher level, he assured.
The visiting president lauded the visionary leadership of Ethiopian government and their giant strides in developing the east African country popularly called ‘The Cradle of Humanity’.

In his congratulatory remarks on the Prime Minister about Ahmed’s recent award of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Buhari said: “Your visionary leadership has seen an amazing transformation of your county in such short period of time”.

In his response, the Ethiopian Prime Minister applauded president Buhari on his fight against corruption stressing that his country is understudying Nigeria on national unity, peaceful coexistence and religious diversity.

“Ethiopia is facing big challenges in this regard and our party leadership will like to learn from Nigeria on how to tackle this challenge and to unify Ethiopia, East Africa and the continent at large, “he stressed.

The Prime Minister requested that the roles of the G-4 countries which include Nigeria, Ethiopia, Algeria and South Africa be strengthened towards the political band economic growth of the continent.

Ethiopia had explored the rich business climate of Nigeria especially in the aviation sector and berthed it’s services in the country with success stories following.

The brand, Ethiopian Airlines was established on the 21st of December, 1946 is and is Ethiopia’s flag carrier airline owned by the Ethiopian government.

One of the huge breaks of the brand was it’s involvement with the large community of Aviation and travels professionals at the African Travel Market which is the biggest travel expo in West Africa. In 2019 for example it participated actively at the Aviation Day of the expo with an evening of tasting the richness of Ethiopia in food while cashing in on the quality of guests for business.

This involvement gave it the much needed soft landing into the heart of the aviation industry in Nigeria and into the warm embrace of the large travelling population from Nigeria.

Currently the airline with its fleet of 111 planes is larger than any other airline in Africa and flies to 106 international and 23 domestic destinations.

Many are optimistic that with the renewed relationship with the current administration, the mutual relationship would metamorphose into huge turnovers in revenue for both countries while creating jobs for it’s teeming population.

By Francis Ogwo