Abuja: Egyptian Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Atty, announced that a strategic partnership between Egypt and Nigeria is poised to enhance stability and prosperity across Africa. Atty made this declaration in Abuja while addressing journalists on pivotal foreign policy issues and economic cooperation between the two nations. He emphasized that robust collaboration between Egypt and Nigeria could lead to significant progress not only for the two countries but also for the entire continent.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Atty highlighted that this partnership would contribute to Africa’s prosperity and support the implementation of Agenda 2063, the continent’s long-term development blueprint. He noted that both countries are part of several regional and international organizations, including BRICS, D-8, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the United Nations. Atty expressed confidence that Egypt and Nigeria could achieve sustainable peace, security, and stability in Africa and globally through a shared vision for the reform of the Security Council.
Atty stressed the importance of addressing security issues in Africa, such as terrorism, which he described as a transboundary challenge that requires cooperation among countries. He mentioned that Egypt’s accumulated expertise in counter-terrorism could be shared with Nigeria, citing Egypt’s successful defeat of terrorism as a model for strategic approaches to ending insecurity.
The minister also underscored the positive impact of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement on trade volume between Egypt, Nigeria, and the rest of the continent. He stressed the importance of cooperation among the three major powers in Africa-Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa-to coordinate measures for the benefit, stability, and prosperity of the continent and its people. Atty called for translating excellent political relationships into more robust business, economic, and investment partnerships to unlock existing opportunities in areas such as investment, trade, and economic cooperation.
Dr. Atty led a delegation of significant Egyptian businesses across sectors like construction, food security, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas. He reiterated Egypt’s commitment to deepening trade cooperation with Nigerian businesses to achieve desired goals. He praised Nigeria for creating a conducive environment supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and conveyed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s appreciation for Nigeria’s endorsement of Egypt’s Dr. Khaled el-Anani as the African Union candidate for Director-General of UNESCO.