…Vows to stabilize ECOWAS
President Bola Tinubu will leave France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The presidential BNC, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.
President Tinubu and President Ramaphosa will engage in substantive talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional and international matters.
Building on the commitments from their June 20, 2024, meeting in Johannesburg shortly after President Ramaphosa’s inauguration for a second term in office, the two leaders will review the progress achieved since the 10th session of the BNC held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
The 11th session of the BNC will feature deliberations across eight working groups, each focusing on a specific area of mutual interest. These include political consultations, consular and migration, banking and finance, defence and security, manufacturing, social sector, mines and energy, and trade and investments.
At the high-level meeting, officials of both countries will sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.
The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission was established in 1999 to further strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
The first session at the Heads of State level was held in October 2019 in Pretoria.
The BNC provides a platform for sustaining high-level dialogue and promoting cooperation in critical areas such as diplomacy, economy, trade, security and other areas of mutual interest.
This year’s meeting is particularly significant as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Commission, a testament to the enduring friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials,
He will return to the country after the BNC meeting.
.Vows to stabilise ECOWAS
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his resolve to stabilise the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and contribute to peace in Africa.
Tinubu stated this during the closing ceremony of the African Military Games 2024 in Abuja, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, said in a statement.
Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, also reiterated his administration’s determination to root out all forms of security threats and violent crimes in Nigeria.
The President, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said he intended to accomplish all these by strengthening ties across African countries to promote a profound sense of camaraderie among troops on the continent.
“As the ECOWAS Chairman, I want to emphasise my determination to stabilise the sub-region and indeed the entire African continent to ensure its prosperity.
“To accomplish this vision, I consider strengthening ties across African countries to foster a deep sense of camaraderie among our troops as a priority,” Tinubu said.
The President said the 2nd edition of the Africa Military Games could not have come at a better time, two decades after the last edition was held.
He said the military sports would go a long way in awakening “the spirit of comradeship and friendship that is crucial to enhance cooperation among” militaries across the African continent.
Tinubu pointed out that, “Armed Forces constantly require fit personnel thereby underscoring the need for military personnel to always engage in sporting activities.
“As such, it is common knowledge that men and women of our Armed Forces must keep fit to ensure optimal physical, mental and emotional well-being.
“This will enable them to cope with the dynamics of our rapidly evolving volatile, uncertain and complex environment.”
While declaring the Africa Military Games Abuja 2024 closed, Tinubu congratulated delegates from participating countries across Africa for their good conduct and display of the spirit of sportsmanship.
“Given the professionalism you all displayed from the start to finish of this Games, you gentlemen and ladies are indeed not only military personnel but also great sportsmen and women.
“I am aware that the various games were conducted without any obvious hitches. This is, indeed, an achievement which we all as Africans ought to be proud of,” he stated.
Earlier, Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), commended participants at the Africa Military Games, Abuja.
“It is with immense pride and gratitude and on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces that we celebrate what has been truly inspiring and a unifying event.
“While awards and trophies represent the pinnacle of achievement, irrespective of the ranking and position, everyone is a winner,” he said.
He added that the courage, skills and sportsmanship exhibited in the field, tracks and courts had been inspiring, proving that victory was not just about crossing the finish line first but about embodying the values of unity and resilience.
“Over the past several days, the national stadium in Abuja has been the hub of canvassing for excellence and sportsmanship under the theme of enhancing military cooperation in Africa through sports.
“We have noticed how sport can bridge boundaries, foster friendship and strengthen bonds among the armed forces of Africa,” said the General.
Also, Maj.-Gen. Maikano Abdullahi, the President of the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA), noted that the achievements of games underscored the cooperation and unity among the military armed forces in Africa.
“We have seen athletes from different countries, transcending borders and differences, but unite for a common purpose to honour our nation and ideals that we stand for in the African armed forces,” he said.
Team Nigeria emerged the overall winner of the AMGA- 2024 with 114 gold medals, 65 silver and 55 bronze totalling 234 medals, while Algeria took the second position with a total of 96 medals, and Kenya came third with 50 medals
