Nigeria and The Gambia have agreed to revive the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission and expand bilateral cooperation, a resolution reached during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and Gambian Foreign Minister, Sering Modou Njie. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with a statement issued Thursday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye stated, "The Nigeria-Gambia bilateral relations have been excellent over the years. We intend to enhance and deepen the brotherly ties between our two countries and further explore opportunities for collaboration to the mutual benefit of Nigeria and The Gambia." Mr. Njie expressed gratitude, saying, "The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role the country played during the political impasse experienced in 2017. The political stability and current development in The Gambia are attributable to Nigeria’s timely intervention, a feat that remains indelible in the history of our country." Ambassador Enikanolaiye added that Nigeria is "committed to promoting pan-African unity, solidarity and development, especially through the framework of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps."
Strengthening Collaboration Framework
Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye described the relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia as longstanding and cordial, stating that the two West African nations shared excellent bilateral relations over the years. He affirmed Nigeria's readiness to deepen existing ties. "We intend to enhance and deepen the brotherly ties between our two countries and further explore opportunities for collaboration to the mutual benefit of Nigeria and The Gambia," Ambassador Enikanolaiye said. He added that reviving the Joint Commission would provide both countries with an opportunity to strengthen collaboration in strategic sectors and advance shared development goals.
Gambian Foreign Minister Sering Modou Njie welcomed Nigeria’s renewed commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. Mr. Njie also expressed gratitude, stating, "The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role the country played during the political impasse experienced in 2017. The political stability and current development in The Gambia are attributable to Nigeria’s timely intervention, a feat that remains indelible in the history of our country." Both ministers agreed that reactivating the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission would create a formal platform to review existing agreements, revive inactive areas of cooperation, and identify new opportunities to strengthen relations. Ambassador Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting African unity and development. He stated, "Nigeria remains committed to promoting pan-African unity, solidarity and development, especially through the framework of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. The programme enables Nigeria to deploy highly qualified professionals to African and Caribbean countries to support manpower development."
Appreciation for Nigerian Support
Sering Modou Njie expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued support to The Gambia, acknowledging the significant role the West African nation has played in his country's stability and development. Mr. Njie stated that Nigeria's backing during The Gambia’s 2017 political impasse was instrumental in restoring constitutional order and stability. He remarked, "The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role the country played during the political impasse experienced in 2017. The political stability and current development in The Gambia are attributable to Nigeria’s timely intervention, a feat that remains indelible in the history of our country."
The Gambian minister further acknowledged Nigeria’s contributions through the deployment of Technical Aid Corps volunteers, noting their impact on various sectors. Nigeria's support for the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia was also recognized by Mr. Njie as a vital element in maintaining peace and security. Additionally, the Gambian minister cited Nigeria's training of Gambian military personnel in Nigerian military institutions as a key aspect of their bilateral cooperation, contributing to capacity building within The Gambia's defense forces.
Future Cooperation and Pan-African Vision
Gambian Foreign Minister Sering Modou Njie extended congratulations to Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye on his appointment as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Njie also reiterated The Gambia's appreciation for Nigeria's historical support, stating, "The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role the country played during the political impasse experienced in 2017. The political stability and current development in The Gambia are attributable to Nigeria’s timely intervention, a feat that remains indelible in the history of our country." Ambassador Enikanolaiye emphasized Nigeria's commitment to pan-African unity and development, particularly through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. He noted that the programme serves as a key platform for supporting manpower development by deploying highly qualified professionals to various countries across Africa and the Caribbean.
