Nigeria and The Gambia have agreed to revitalise the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission as part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations and promote cooperation in critical areas of mutual interest.
The decision was reached during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and his Gambian counterpart, Sering Modou Njie, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
According to the statement, both countries agreed that reactivating the Joint Commission would create an avenue to review existing agreements, revive inactive areas of collaboration and identify fresh opportunities for partnership.
Speaking during the meeting, Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing relationship with The Gambia, describing the ties between both countries as cordial and mutually beneficial.
“Our relationship with The Gambia has remained strong over the years, and Nigeria is committed to taking that partnership to a higher level by exploring new areas of cooperation that will benefit both countries,” he said.
The minister also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to advancing African unity and regional development through initiatives such as the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme.
He explained that the initiative enables Nigeria to deploy skilled professionals to African and Caribbean countries to support capacity building and human resource development.
In his remarks, Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sering Modou Njie, congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment and welcomed Nigeria’s renewed commitment to expanding bilateral engagement.
Njie expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s longstanding support, particularly during The Gambia’s 2017 political crisis, saying the country’s intervention played a decisive role in restoring stability.
“The Gambia remains grateful for Nigeria’s leadership during the political impasse of 2017. That intervention contributed significantly to the peace and democratic progress our country enjoys today, and it will always remain part of our national history,” Njie said.
He also acknowledged Nigeria’s continued assistance through the deployment of Technical Aid Corps volunteers, its contributions to the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia, and the training of Gambian military officers in Nigerian military institutions.
The meeting ended with both ministers expressing optimism that the revival of the Joint Commission would further consolidate the long-standing relationship between the two West African nations and open new avenues for cooperation in areas of shared interest.
