Nigeria has reaffirmed its cordial diplomatic relations with The Gambia amid alleged controversy and cautioned people against making inflammatory comments that could escalate a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesman, stated this on Monday in Abuja during a briefing for journalists following purported speculations of diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and The Gambia.

The briefing was informed by a letter allegedly written by ECOWAS president Omar Touray to Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, requesting the withdrawal of ECOWAS commissioner for internal services, Nigeria’s Nazifi Darma.

It was also triggered by another letter from a CSO, ‘Make A Difference Initiative’, to The Gambian president, requesting the recall of Mr Touray, a Gambian, from ECOWAS, on grounds of misconduct.

Mr Ebienfa said that people should avoid making comments that would cause unnecessary diplomatic misunderstanding between friendly countries, such as Nigeria and The Gambia.

“There was a newspaper analysis on one of the radio stations, whereby the analyst made statements that the ministry is not pleased with. The ministry wants to state it categorically clear that there is no issue between Nigeria and The Gambia, and that we have a very cordial relationship.

“We have helped The Gambia in different dimensions: Nigerians have occupied sensitive positions in The Gambia, from the military to their hospitals and to their judiciary. A Nigerian has been chief judge of The Gambia,” he said.

Mr Ebienfa added, “We have been head of their military as chief of army staff or chief of defence staff. We helped them during crisis period. We worked together; even collaborated in different international arenas. We are more concerned, because making the statements that The Gambia is less populated than Nigeria and that The Gambia has no right to frown as a Gambian, maltreating Nigerians, is not the case.”

He explained that appointments to the commission are made by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, which assigns portfolios to different member states.

“The member countries where the portfolios are assigned nominate candidates that are reviewed or assessed by an ad hoc ministerial committee. This is then submitted to the commission, whereby the commission makes submissions to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers for onward decisions. The ECOWAS Council of Ministers then takes the final decision on the appointment and confirmation of commissioners,” he said.

Mr Ebienfa explained that Mr Darma had been invited by the ministry to brief it on the situation at the commission, which he had satisfactorily done. He said that the ministry had already made its position known to President Bola Tinubu on the best decision to take in Nigeria’s interest on the matter.

“Darma has also taken Touray to the Community Court of Justice, so in that case, there is nothing much anyone can do since the matter is in court. On disciplinary procedure, disciplinary matters involving commissioners and the ECOWAS Commission are handled by the community’s Council of Ministers,” the ministry’s spokesman added.

(NAN)