VP Osinbajo pays 2-day official visit to Algeria

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be in Algeria, the North African country, on a two-day official visit from Tuesday Dec. 13.

The visit is on the invitation of the Algerian government, a statement issued by the Vice Presidential Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, said on Monday,

During the visit, Osinbajo, who would be received by the Algerian Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, is to hold talks with the Algerian President Abdellaziz Bouteflika.

He would also interact with members of the Upper and Lower chambers of the Algerian legislature.

The visit would explore the deepening of diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria while also reviewing specific areas of security cooperation.

Both countries would also use the opportunity to harmonize their positions on multilateral issues of common interest and share ideas on how to address some international challenges especially those confronting Africa.

It would be recalled that in August, the Algerian President sent a Special Envoy to Nigeria, in person of the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra.

The Special Envoy was then received in audience on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, by Vice President Osinbajo.

The Special Envoy reiterated Algeria’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, calling for increased collaboration between both countries in the areas of intelligence gathering and deradicalisation 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 (MoU).

The MOU included 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 Fiber Optic Project.

While in Algeria, Osinbajo would also visit a food processing plant and meet representatives of the Nigerian community.

The Vice President would be accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ade Ipaye.

The Vice President is expected back on Wednesday Dec. 14.

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