The Chairman House committee on foreign Affairs,National House of representative Abuja ,Hon Yusuf Buba Yakubu revealed that Nigeria and Bangladesh agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties in the areas of different multilateral corporation.
The National Assembly Member said Nigeria and Bangladesh are set to further deepen co-operation and ties in the areas of bilateral trade, Parliamentary co-operation and support for each other’s quest and groups to which they both belong.
The above was the outcome of a visit to the National Assembly recently by the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria,H.E, Mr Shameem Ahsan,who was at the National Assembly to meet with the new leadership and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.
While stating the why and wherefore of his visit,Ambassador Ahsan said Nigeria and Bangladesh had so much in common and ought to engage more meaningfully in trade,politics,world affairs and socio-cultural co-operation.
He said ,with a population of almost two hundred million and ranking number six (6) in global oil production,apart from its rich agricultural land, Nigeria and Bangladesh with an equally large population of over a hundred and thirty million people and a GDP of 7.6 ,including a rich production capacity in agriculture and a textile industry that is only second to that of China,the two countries ought to do more than the current volume of trade between them.
He also used the occasion to request the support of Nigeria in the bid for his country to host the next D8 Countries’ meeting and ,also,welcomed shared perspectives on power where he observed that Bangladesh has attained 22,000 Megawatts for its industrialization and sundry uses,while adding that there was also a lot to share between the both countries in Nigeria’s vast tourism potential and inter-parliamentary co-operation.
Hon Yusuf who is the Member representing Gombi/Hong at the national Assembly and serving as the Chairman,House Committee on Foreign Affairs, while chronicling several earlier visits between the both countries,said it was a good thing both countries belong world bodies such as the UN,OIC, D8 Countries, FIFA and the rest.
Buba said the duo countries have many commonalities and share a lot of similarities which can be effectively use and influence for mutual benefits.
He promised to,alongside the House Committee on Parliamentary Co-operation, set in motion activities that would facilitate inter-parliamentary co- operation and union between Nigeria and Bangladesh.
He also used the occasion to call on Bangladesh to support Nigeria by encouraging the revamping of the cotton industry, which he said was a thriving subsector that provided gainful employment for millions of Nigerians in the 1960s and 70s.
The National legislator said Nigeria had a lot to learn from the mechanised agriculture of Bangladesh and sued for support for the sector in the areas of food processing,preservation and storage.
Nkem Anyata-Lafia,Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to the Chairman of the Committee said tge meeting ended amidst fanfare and exchange of gifts on both sides.
