- Professor Yemi Osinbajo is set to leave for Algeria
- The vice president is headed for a 2-day official visit
- Osinbajo's visit coincides with that of Buahri who is to visit Gambia
Nigeria's vice president Yemi Osinbajo, is set for a two-day official visit in Algeria.
Osinbajo is to set-off to the North African nation on Tuesday December 13, Vanguard reports.
Aso Rock empty as Osinbajo jets-off to Algeria
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.
In a similar vein, President Muhammadu Buhari and other West African leaders will travel to Gambia on Tuesday, December 13, in a bid to end the political crisis in the West African nation.
An anonymous senior government official reportedly told BBC, that the visit is due to the refusal of authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh's to accept defeat at the hands of former estate agent Adama Barrow.
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