Nigeria, Pakistan Seal BASA Deal …As G-8 Meeting Ends In Islamabad

L-R: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Pakistan , Ambassador Dauda Danladi and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhiomoibhi, during an interactive session with Nigerians in Pakistan, on Wednesday.

Nigeria is to sign a Bi-lateral Air Service Agreement with Pakistan, among others, to pave the

way for direct flights between both countries.

The decision was reached on Wednesday in Islamabad, at a closed-door bilateral meeting between Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Asif Zardari of Pakistan.

The meeting which took place at the Presidential palace, in Islamabad, was on the sideline of the Summit of the Eight Developing Nations (D-8) being hosted by Pakistan.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, said that the two leaders agreed to invigorate the existing Nigeria-Pakistani Joint Commission.

He said they agreed that the invigoration of the joint commission would promote trade relations and co-operations between the two countries.

Abati said the two leaders acknowledged the need to strengthen the existing cooperation between both countries, particularly, in the area of security, military and banking.

Jonathan was billed to hold similar bi-lateral meetings with other member countries of the organisation before returning home today.