ABUJA — Nigeria and The Gambia have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and revive their Joint Commission to deepen cooperation across key sectors.
The decision followed a high-level meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and The Gambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sering Modou Njie, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye described relations between both countries as longstanding and cordial, stressing the need to expand collaboration for mutual benefit.
“We must enhance and deepen the brotherly ties between our countries and further explore opportunities for collaboration,” he said.
Njie, in his remarks, praised Nigeria’s historic role in stabilising The Gambia during the 2017 political crisis, noting that the intervention remains a defining moment in the country’s development.
“The Gambia remains grateful to Nigeria for the leadership role it played during the political impasse in 2017. That timely intervention remains indelible in our history,” he stated.
He also acknowledged Nigeria’s continued support through the deployment of Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers in critical sectors, as well as military assistance and training for Gambian forces.
“The support in education, health, legal services and military training has strengthened our national capacity,” Njie added.
In response, Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to pan-African unity and development, highlighting the Technical Aid Corps as a key platform for strengthening partnerships across Africa and the Caribbean.
“Nigeria remains committed to promoting African solidarity and development through initiatives such as the TAC programme,” he said.
Both countries agreed that reviving the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission would provide a framework to review dormant agreements and unlock new areas of cooperation.
The meeting underscores Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to reinforce regional integration and strengthen strategic alliances within West Africa.
