FCT MINISTER CALLS FOR INCREASED COOPERATION AMONG AFRICAN NATIONS

…AS HE RECEIVES THE IVORIAN AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA

1.     Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has called for increased cooperation among African countries to enhance the development of the continent.

2.     The FCT Minister made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, when he received the Ambassador of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Kalilou Traore in his office.

3.     The Minister said increased cooperation among African countries will usher in prosperity and bring about the development of the continent.

4.     Barr. Wike who also stressed the need for cooperation among ECOWAS countries, said the FCT will continue to work to strengthen its relationship with Cote D’Ivoire.

5.     He said, “There is a need for us to cooperate among African countries and among ECOWAS countries to usher in economic growth and prosperity”.

6.     According to the Minister, “We will continue to strengthen our relationship. Luckily our President is the Chairman of ECOWAS. So, we will do everything possible to see that our relationship is smooth and cordial in such a way that there will be a symbiotic relationship”.

7.     The Minister also commended the efforts of Cote ’D’Ivoire’s diplomatic mission to develop its land in the FCT, saying he had asked for the development of abandoned and uncompleted structures in the FCT for security reasons. 

8.     Barr. Wike also disclosed that the FCTA will waive the payment of taxes for Diplomatic Missions in the nation’s capital just as Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad are also exempted from taxes.

9.     According to the Minister, “Let me also say that the issue of tax will be waived. I will call the authority that is responsible for cooperating with you on this issue. I know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told me that the same thing applies to them in the other countries where they operate. So, that will not be an issue”.

10. Speaking earlier, the Ambassador of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Kalilou Traore, said he was on a visit to inform the FCT Minister about the intention of the Embassy to commence the development of its land in Maitama District, in line with the directive of the FCT Administration to develop the land within a given timeframe.

11. The Envoy also expressed the mission’s desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Nigeria – the biggest country in the African continent and Cote D’Ivoire -the biggest among Francophone countries in Africa.

12. He said, “I wanted to come to you to propose twinning Abuja with the political capital of Cote D’Ivoire, that is Yamoussoukro”. 

13. Also at the event were the First Counsellor of the Ivorian Embassy Mr Cisse Karim, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Hon. Chidi Amadi, FCTA General Counsel Barr. Salman Dako, the Secretary for Economic Planning, Revenue, Generation and PPP, Arch Ubokutom Nyah and SSA on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Barr. Benedict Daudu.

ANTHONY OGUNLEYE

DIRECTOR OF PRESS

(OFFICE OF THE MINISTER)

24/04/2024

FCTA/ODP/PR/532