Senegal’s President Bassirou Faye says he can rely on President Bola Tinubu’s experience and wisdom and provide good leadership to keep countries in the ECOWAS united and peaceful.

Mr Faye said this when he was received by the Nigerian president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

Mr Faye acknowledged Nigeria and Senegal’s shared values, ideals, and challenges, emphasising that both nations have had good relations since the 1960s.

“The good relations we have and the relations between our private sectors should be beneficial to our countries,” he said.

The Senegalese president called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to strengthen bilateral relations in diplomacy, trade, and other spheres.

Speaking on ECOWAS, the Senegalese president said with Mr Tinubu’s wisdom and experience, relations among member states could be strengthened to advance the community.

Mr Faye said, “ECOWAS is the beacon of successful regional integration in Africa and globally. It is something we owe to the founding fathers of the community, and I have no doubt that you want to continue this legacy of integration.

“I know I can rely on your wisdom and experience, as the leader of this great African nation and the more recent example of Senegal, so that together, hand in hand, we can grow together and that we can discuss with our brothers and convince them to come back into the fold.”

He added, “To come back and share our common democratic values and what we stand for. Your wisdom and your democratic values should be an asset to that vision, and my youth and determination can also be an asset.

“United, we are stronger. Faced with common challenges, such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and all other challenges, we need to show resolve to confront these challenges so that economically we can thrive and satisfy the wishes of our people.”

(NAN)