₦airaland Forum

A delegation from the African Business Roundtable, led by the Executive Director (West Africa), Mr. Dotun Ajayi paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker, House of Representatives, September 27, 2023, in Abuja.

The delegation had come to solicite the understanding of the House for a robust relationship with European Parliaments.

Ajayi told the Speaker that recent coup in Niger Republic brought a new dimension to the engagements between some European countries and West Africa.

He noted that Niger has problems with only France in Europe, whereas the French government was planning to cut all forms of assistance to West Africa due to the coup.

He reiterated the fact that the executive arm of government has been doing much to smoothen issues, saying that "Mr President has been playing some roles behind the scene on this."

He then stated that the parliament needs to be seen to work with him on this. According to him, "Our Parliament should engage the French Parliament and the EU."

Ajayi said the European Union has set aside 20 billion Euros for the Sub-Saharan Africa, stating that, "We want to see a situation where your engagement increases what comes to Nigeria."

"We're proposing an engagement between you and your members for a partnership between you and the EU, as well as the French Parliament."

Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, in a release made available to legislatorvoice, stated that Speaker Abbas explained to his visitors that the 10th House had already created over 60 parliamentary friendship committees to enhance the relationship between the House and other parliaments across the world.

He said the friendship committees needed the support from outside to function efficiently, noting that the House would support any cause that would lead to enhanced relationships with other parliaments.

"I am pleased to inform you that the House has thought about what you're talking about several months ago. On July 27, we announced membership of 43 parliamentary friendship committees to find ways of improving our relations in terms of business and other aspects with them.

"Two weeks ago, we increased it from 43 to 65. Just yesterday, we also included Serbia, making it 66," he said.

Speaker Abbas told the delegation: "We are with you on this issue (engagements with other parliaments). This is noble. Even before you came, we thought about that toward.

"I want to assure you that we'll engage more with you. This meeting will be a historic one which will be a point of reference in the future. We will pursue it with all the energy we have."