Benin and Nigeria to also hold joint cabinet meetings. By Grace Joe
President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic has commended the efforts put up by President Goodluck Jonathan in handling the Boko Haram menace in the country.
This is even as both Presidents agreed on a joint rehabilitation of the Seme- Badagry Road which is currently in a bad situation.
Yayi, who also doubles as Chairman of the African Union, spoke to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after visiting Jonathan.
Speaking through an interpreter, Yayi said that he came to visit his Nigerian counterpart “who has been leading Nigeria in a very good manner”.
“Nigeria is the greatest country in our sub-region, the greatest and most populated country in sub-sahara,” he said. “I congratulate President Jonathan for the effort he is making within ECOWAS countries to secure our sub-region and we they talked about the situation in Guinea Bissau, Mali and other countries.”
At the bilateral level, he said that both countries shared a common vision on the priorities of the time. He commended the joint operation at the maritime level to fight piracy. “So, stability, security and peace are the only conditions to move towards prosperity and development,” he said. “The two countries have to work hand-in-hand to reach that prosperity because the projects are common in terms of infrastructure.”
According to him, both countries have also agreed to hold joint cabinet meetings “just like France and Germany used to do”. Both cabinets will periodically meet in Abuja “to take stock of the priorities in the two countries”.
