Reps seeks Nigeria, Kenya collaboration on agric devt

The House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria/Kenya Parliamentary Group has called for collaboration between Nigeria and Kenya to develop the agricultural potentials of the African continent.

Chairman of the Committee, Abdullahi El-Rasheed made the call while speaking at a meeting with the Kenya High Commission to Nigeria, Amb Isaac Parashina.

El-Rasheed said since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on May 28, 1964, the two countries have enjoyed a strong partnership rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and common aspirations for peace and prosperity across Africa.

He said the cooperation between the two countries has continued to grow in diverse areas, particularly in trade, investment, and mutual support on the global stage.

He said “In January 2015, Kenya and Nigeria took significant steps to enhance bilateral ties by signing critical agreements that covered diverse sectors including tourism, agriculture, oil and gas, and trade.

“These agreements provided a solid foundation for greater collaboration from the exchange of goods such as Kenya’s tea and horticultural products to Nigeria’s petroleum products and cement.”

El-Rasheed said with the constitution of the Nigeria-Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group and constant engagement with critical stakeholders across all sectors of governance and other critical economic sectors, Nigeria and Kenya are well-positioned to explore new opportunities for trade in areas of technology, renewable energy, tourism and other economic and developmental aspects that will define the future of our economies.

He said “despite the positive developments recorded since the establishment of our diplomatic relationship in 1964, we recognize that there are still challenges that we must overcome to unlock the full potential of this bilateral relationship, especially in terms of increasing trade volumes.

“As major stakeholders in this venture, we have a responsibility to continue fostering dialogue, addressing trade barriers, and facilitating greater understanding of each other’s economic landscapes. This will ensure that the potential of our countries’ vast resources is maximized for the benefit of our peoples.

“With the existence of these parliamentary friendship group, the House of Representatives reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening our ties with Kenya and ensuring that the opportunities we have identified continue to grow and translate into tangible benefits for both our together to build a future marked by greater economic collaboration, peace, and shared prosperity.

“The objectives and mandate of the Nigeria-Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group cannot be achieved without an absolute and result oriented collaboration with the Kenya High Commission to Nigeria.

“The High Commission stands at a strategic position to laying the foundation of these great initiative and as such the group will continuously and consistently reach out to the High Commission”.

In his remarks, The Kenyan High commissioner to Nigeria said they are ready to foster collaboration with Nigeria in the area of textile, coffee and agriculture, describing the collaboration as a welcomed development.

By Tony Akowe