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Nigeria, Singapore To Establish Joint Commission
The Federal Government has proposed the establishment of a joint commission with Singapore to strengthen the relations between both countries.
The Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, made the proposal when Mr Masagos Zulkiifli, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, visited her in Abuja.
Onwuliri said that establishing a joint commission would enable both countries to take advantage of investment opportunities.
“It’s time we institute and establish a joint commission so that it will give us a broader and legal framework in possible areas of relations. “This is important because it sets a foundation for world peace,” she said.
She said that areas that both countries could strengthen relations included agriculture and food security, oil and gas, education, transportation, job creation and youth empowerment.
The minister said that bilateral relations with Singapore would facilitate the transformation agenda of the present administration.
She added the visit of the Singapore’s foreign minister of state would enable both countries to review pending agreements between them.
“We would look at those draft documents on different areas that we agreed to be worked upon so that in your next visit, it will be an important step in signing some of those documents.
“In the area of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), the minster of aviation will visit Singapore soon and that will be handled.
“If we exchange the draft documents, then they should be ready for signing soon,” she said.
Onwuliri also solicited Singapore’s support for Nigeria’s bid for a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent seat in 2014.
Responding, Zulkiifli said that Singapore was committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria.
He said the country would also share experiences with Nigeria in the areas of urban planning and water management.
“Nigeria is developing very fast and there are many areas that would be challenging to countries that grow very fast which include water management and urban growth.
“Singapore has learnt this through its own development and we are happy to share such experiences with Nigeria,” he said.
Zulkiifli said 150 Nigerians had been trained under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, especially in the areas of urban development.