A member of the House of Representatives, Abdullahi El-Rasheed has said that Nigeria and Kenya stand to gain from each other in critical sectors including technology, renewable energy and tourism in the years ahead.
El-Rasheed who chairs the Nigeria-Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group stated this on Friday at a meeting with members of the Kenya High Commission led by the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Isaac Parashina.
Highlighting the significance of the friendship group, the lawmaker stated that since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations on May 28, 1964, the two countries have enjoyed a strong partnership rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and common aspirations for peace and prosperity across Africa.
He added that the cooperation of the two countries has continued to grow in diverse areas, particularly in trade, investment, and mutual support on the global stage.
He said, “With the constitution of the Nigeria-Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group and constant engagement with critical stakeholders across all sectors of governance and other critical economic sectors, I strongly believe that both Nigeria and Kenya are well-positioned to explore new opportunities for trade in areas of technology, renewable energy, tourism and other economic and developmental aspects that will define the future of our economies.
“In January 2015, Kenya and Nigeria took significant steps to enhance bilateral ties by signing critical agreements that covered diverse sectors including tourism, agriculture, oil and gas, and trade. These agreements provided a solid foundation for greater collaboration from the exchange of goods such as Kenya’s tea and horticultural products to Nigeria’s petroleum products and cement.”
El-Rasheed, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, Gombe State, however, identified low trade volume as an impediment to the economic growth of the two continental powerhouses.
He said, “Despite the positive developments recorded since the establishment of our diplomatic relationship in 1964, we recognise that there are still challenges that we must overcome to unlock the full potential of this bilateral relationship, especially in terms of increasing trade volumes.
“As major stakeholders in this venture, we have a responsibility to continue fostering dialogue, addressing trade barriers, and facilitating greater understanding of each other’s economic landscapes. This will ensure that the potential of our countries’ vast resources is maximised for the benefit of our people.
“With the existence of this parliamentary friendship group, the House of Representatives reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening our ties with Kenya and ensuring that the opportunities we have identified continue to grow and translate into tangible benefits for both our together to build a future marked by greater economic collaboration, peace, and shared prosperity.”
He further pointed out that “The mandate of the Nigeria-Kenya Parliamentary Friendship Group cannot be achieved without an absolute and result-oriented collaboration with the Kenya High Commission to Nigeria. The High Commission stands in a strategic position to lay the foundation of these great initiatives and as such, the group will continuously and consistently reach out to the High Commission.”
Also speaking, Rivers lawmaker, Cyril Hart made a case for agriculture with emphasis on the cultivation of cotton in Nigeria to revive the textile industry.
He said, “If you look at agriculture extensively, other than food, we can do cultivation of cotton and have textile companies here. Let Africa begin to patronise Africa.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Parashina called for result-driven engagement between the two countries.
“We have two great countries that are of great significance to our continent. We have been enjoying a very cordial working relationship and we have had a lot of engagements but we want to see some of these engagements yielding certain fruits. We are hopeful that we will able to harness the full benefits of these relationships very soon,” he said.
