Nigeria and Algeria have reiterated their commitment to working closely to deepen diplomatic relations between them.

This is contained in a statement by the Nigerian embassy in Algiers on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the commitment is against the backdrop of the official meeting between Gabriel Aduda, permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with ministers of Foreign Affairs and Transport of Algiers, respectively.

“In continuation of his official visit to Algeria for the 3rd Session of Bilateral Consultations, Aduda met Mr Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria. He also met Mr Bekai Aissa, Minister of Transport of Algeria, to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries,” it stated. “Aduda was received by Lamamra in his office on December 7, 2021 and the two officials hailed the level of bilateral relations and agreed to work to deepen it even further.”

The statement added that both sides identified the importance of intra-African economic integration, including transport connectivity, as key to achieving full regional integration.

The statement further noted that In his meeting with Mr Aissa on December 8, Aduda highlighted the importance of direct air links between Nigeria and Algeria and road and rail links between the two countries.

”These will improve people-to-people contact and increase business relations among citizens of the two countries,” the statement said.

It further quoted Mr Aissa to reiterate Algeria’s commitment to undertaking direct flights to Nigeria under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement framework.

It stated that in line with the agreement signed in 2018, both sides agreed to discuss the issues in greater detail at a technical level.

Mr Aduda was accompanied to the meetings by the Nigerian to Algeria, Mohammed Mabdul, and other officials.

(NAN)