The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, on Monday said Nigeria would sustain the historical bilateral relations with the Niger Republic government, even as he assured that Nigeria would support Niger Republic’s aspiration to produce the next Secretary General of the Union of Africa Shippers’ Council at the coming election.
Umar gave the assurance when he received his counterpart from Niger, Mr Saley Saidou and his entourage in his office in Abuja on Monday.
The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, on Monday said Nigeria would sustain the historical bilateral relations with the Niger Republic government, even as he assured that Nigeria would support Niger Republic’s aspiration to produce the next Secretary General of the Union of Africa Shippers’ Council at the coming election.
Umar gave the assurance when he received his counterpart from Niger, Mr Saley Saidou and his entourage in his office in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the collaboration was based on the long shared border and common cultural activities.
The minister said that Nigeria would support the candidate of the Niger republic in the forthcoming Union of Africa Shippers’ Council election.
He said that the two countries would work together to ensure the sustainability of the enviable records of the council.
Umar said that Nigeria would support any candidate that would unify the various member states for the vacant post of Secretary General of the union in quest for better services.
He said that Nigeria already has a candidate in the person of Mr Adamou Abdourahamane.
“We, in Nigerian Shippers Council already have a candidate and that person is the Nigerian candidate.
“We are giving him our support for the post of Secretary General as he has spent 25 years handling the affairs of shippers’ councils, so he is more experienced.
“Nigeria and Niger enjoy current and historical relationship between them based on long shared border and common cultural activities.
“This has led to special rapport between us at the regional groupings, including the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) an umbrella organisation of Shippers’ Councils in the sub region.
“And a vehicle for regional integration in promoting trade facilitation, infrastructure and transit trade,’’ he said.
He said that the two countries through the council had been collaborating positively in advancing the nation’s cargo interest as Coastal Landlocked countries, respectively.
Earlier, the Minister of Transport, Niger, Mr Saley Saidou said the purpose of their visit was to seek support of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in the forthcoming council’s election.
He said that the country’s candidate would be contesting for the post of Secretary General in the UASC.
Saidou said that it became imperative for them to seek Nigeria’s support as five countries were contesting for the same post.
They are Togo, Senegal, Benin, Gabon and Niger.
According to him, there is no doubt that the candidate can lead the UASC due to his 25 years working experience as the Director, CNUT.
“When we discussed the issue with our President, he asked if Nigeria is also contesting and we said no.
“We are sure that if the response was to be in affirmative, he would have stopped us because of our bilateral relationship with Nigeria,’’ he said.
The minister said that 89 per cent of goods imported into Niger pass through neighbouring coast, adding that Nigeria should assist them in enrooting their goods.
Also, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, said that Nigeria port had put in place adequate measures to receive import from Niger cargo.
“Nigeria is reviving its railways, as we have port depot in Funtua and Kano that will soon come on-stream,’’ he said.
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