Angola says it will continue to prioritise its trade cooperation with Nigeria and improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

José Bamóquina Zau, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Angola to Nigeria, Benin, and Niger, said this at the 48th independence anniversary ceremony of the country on Friday night in Abuja.

He said the 48 years of independence of Angola represented the sacrifices made by Angolans and the government’s determination to implement the country’s main objective.

According to him, Angola and Nigeria are brother countries and giant crude oil producers in Africa and have been in a relationship that started since Angola’s liberation struggle began until its independence.

Mr Zau stated, “Angola and Nigeria faced challenges and their respective leaders remain committed to resolving most essential problems and strengthening bilateral cooperation are core plans of Presidents Joao Lourenco and Bola Tinubu. Since 2008, the Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission has awaited a roundtable with the officials of the two countries to work on socioeconomic, political, defence and internal security issues. 

“The commission also awaits to consolidate the bilateral legal instruments needed, in view of the dynamic that is to be created between the two brotherly countries. The Angola-Nigeria economic balance still does not reflect the strategic dimension of the two giants. The African Free Trade Zone is coming, so it is in everyone’s interest to prioritise trade cooperation and reverse the current situation in the short and medium term.”

He acknowledged the partnership between Angola and Nigeria within the Technical and Methodological Coordination of African Petroleum Producing Organisation (APPO) framework, which extended to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

He identified the Gulf of Guinea Commission as one of the outcomes of the sub-regional organisation’s coordinated actions aimed at gaining momentum amidst the current challenges in the area.

“In this regard, the leaderships of the two countries have always taken the lead in fulfilling principles defended by the founding fathers of the OAU,” noted the Angolan ambassador. “It is where we highlight the intangibility of the borders of our colonial heritage, freedom for oppressed people, and freedom of religion, and above all, raising the great challenge of lifting millions of Africans out of poverty.”

He further said that the Angola/Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in Luanda to ensure the business community’s needs in both countries are properly understood and supported.

The envoy stated that the embassy on October 19 hosted its maiden Diplomatic Business Forum that brought together political and business stalwarts from Angola and Nigeria.

(NAN)