Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will begin a two-day visit to Algeria on Tuesday. He will be received on arrival in Algiers by the Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal.
He will then hold talks with the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and also interact with members of the Upper and lower chambers of the Algerian legislature.
The visit will explore the deepening of diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria while also reviewing specific areas of security cooperation.
Both countries will also use the opportunity to harmonize their positions on multilateral issues of common interest, and sharing ideas on how to address a number of international challenges especially those confronting Africa.
In August, the Algerian President sent his Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra to Nigeria, as a special envoy.
The Special Envoy was then received on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, by Vice President Osinbajo.
Lamamra reiterated Algeria’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, calling for increased collaboration between both countries in the areas of intelligence gathering and de-radicalisation programmes.
In 2002, both countries set up the Nigeria-Algeria Bi-National Commission to enhance bilateral cooperation, and signed a number of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding including those related to the creation of the ‘Development Corridor’, with such projects as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project, the Trans-Sahara Highway Project and the Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Project.
While in Algeria, Prof. Osinbajo will also visit a food processing plant and meet representatives of the Nigerian community.
The Vice President will be accompanied on the visit by the Foreign Affairs Minister of State, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Ade Ipaye.
He is expected back on Wednesday December 14.
NAN
