NIGERIA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA TO COLLABORATE ON ECONOMIC, SECURITY ISSUES - USANI UGURU

By Leonard Oru, Abuja= Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are to strengthen bilateral relations on economic and security issues for the wellbeing of both countries and their citizens.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani made this disclosure in Abuja while playing host to the Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to Nigeria, Mr. Job Obiang Esono Mbengono, on Monday.

Pastor Usani appreciated the visit of the Guinean Ambassador, recalling that the bi- literal security agreement between the two countries in March, 2016. He noted that that collaboration of maritime security between the two countries demands commitment based on their strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Minister also noted that some Nigerian investors are making enquiries on how to invest in Equatorial Guinea.

Pastor Usani revealed that a platform will soon be created to ease investment between investors from both countries, as a means of improving their economies.

The Minister also disclosed that there were investment opportunities in maritime, coastal and manufacturing, among others, for Equatorial Guinea investors in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea said that his country is ‘very interested in things that happen in the Niger Delta’, as happenings in the region affect his country.

He added that one of the aims of his visit was to find areas his country could invest in Nigeria. Mbengono, who congratulated Nigeria on the ‘Ogoni clean-up exercise’, said that it was an indication of the receptiveness of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to the yearnings of the people from the region.

He also commended the Federal Government on the measures put in place to address the resurgence of militancy activities in the Niger Delta region.