Nigeria and The Gambia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, with both countries agreeing to revive the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission to strengthen cooperation, review existing agreements and explore new areas of mutual interest.
The commitment was reached during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie, on the sidelines of the ongoing ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye described relations between the two countries as warm, longstanding and rooted in shared values, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.
“Nigeria and The Gambia have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations over the years. We are committed to enhancing these brotherly ties and exploring new opportunities for collaboration that will be of mutual benefit to our two countries,” the minister said.
In his remarks, Minister Njie congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment and welcomed his resolve to further strengthen engagement between the two countries.
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He commended Nigeria for its steadfast support to The Gambia, particularly its leadership during the country’s 2017 political impasse, noting that Nigeria’s intervention was instrumental in restoring constitutional order and laying the foundation for sustained peace and national development.
“The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role it played during our political impasse in 2017. Nigeria’s timely intervention remains indelible in our nation’s history and has greatly contributed to the political stability and development we enjoy today,” Njie said.
The Gambian foreign minister also acknowledged Nigeria’s continued support through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC), whose volunteers have strengthened capacity in education, healthcare and the justice sector.
He further praised Nigeria’s contribution to regional peace and security through its participation in the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) and its role in training Gambian military personnel at Nigerian military institutions.
Responding, Ambassador Enikanolaiye expressed appreciation for the enduring friendship between both countries and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing pan-African unity, regional solidarity and sustainable development.
“Nigeria remains committed to promoting pan-African unity, solidarity and development. Through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, we will continue to deploy highly qualified professionals to support manpower development across Africa and the Caribbean in line with the needs of our partner countries,” he said.
Both ministers agreed that reviving the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission would provide a structured platform for reviewing outstanding bilateral agreements, identifying new areas of cooperation and further consolidating the longstanding partnership between the two West African nations.
