The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated the Nigeria–Benin Inter-Ministerial Committee and Technical Working Group, marking the formal commencement of negotiations toward a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhanced Economic Cooperation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
This was contained in a statement by Augustina Obilor-Duru, Head, Press and Public Relations Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, on 4th February, 2026.
The inauguration ceremony, which took place recently in Abuja, represents a significant step in advancing bilateral trade, investment cooperation, and broader regional economic collaboration between both neighbouring countries.
In her address, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR, described the Nigeria–Benin relationship as longstanding and deeply interconnected, rooted in shared history, culture, and economic ties. She noted that the close interdependence of both economies presents substantial opportunities for trade expansion, investment promotion, industrial development, and shared prosperity, provided cooperation is guided by a clear, structured, and coordinated framework.
The Honourable Minister explained that the proposed MoU is intended to serve as a practical, non-binding framework for collaboration in priority areas including trade facilitation, investment promotion, industrial cooperation, customs and border management, standards and conformity assessment, value-chain development, and the formalisation of informal cross-border trade. According to her, the objective is to enhance coordination, efficiency, predictability, and transparency in Nigeria–Benin economic relations.
Dr. Oduwole emphasized that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening economic engagement with neighbouring countries, promoting orderly and legitimate trade, and advancing regional economic cooperation in alignment with Nigeria’s national development priorities and international obligations under ECOWAS, AfCFTA, and WTO frameworks.
While acknowledging that the Republic of Benin is a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Minister clarified that the MoU under negotiation is not a free trade agreement. She stressed that it must not include tariff liberalisation, market access commitments, or any provisions that could be construed as establishing a free trade regime. The framework, she noted, must safeguard Nigeria’s strategic domestic industries, ensure reciprocity, curb trade distortions, and deliver balanced and mutually beneficial outcomes.
Addressing members of the Technical Working Group, Dr. Oduwole underscored the importance of their multi-sectoral composition and charged them to leverage their collective institutional expertise to ensure that negotiation outcomes are technically sound, policy-consistent, implementable, and development-oriented. She also encouraged sustained inter-ministerial coordination and stakeholder engagement to ensure coherence across government policies.
The Honourable Minister assured the Committee of the full support of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, noting that the Permanent Secretary and relevant Directors would provide the necessary coordination and administrative backing. She formally inaugurated the Nigerian Technical Working Group for the negotiation of the Nigeria–Benin Enhanced Economic Cooperation Framework and wished members success in their deliberations.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, recalled key milestones leading to the inauguration. He noted that at the sidelines of the West African Economic Summit held on 21 June 2025, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR, alongside her Beninese counterpart, Ms. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, signed an MoU aimed at reinvigorating economic and trade cooperation between both countries, an initiative undertaken at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the President of the Republic of Benin.
Ambassador Rimi further recalled the Honourable Minister’s official visit to the Republic of Benin on 31 July 2025, during which both countries adopted a framework of reference for the development of the current MoU on Enhanced Economic Cooperation. He disclosed that Nigeria has since received the zero draft of the MoU, which will serve as the basis for negotiations, and that Nigeria’s composition of the Technical Working Group has been formally transmitted to the Government of Benin through diplomatic channels.
He explained that the Committee has been tasked with negotiating a balanced and development-focused framework covering trade facilitation, investment cooperation, customs and border management, standards, industrial collaboration, and other priority areas of mutual interest, expressing confidence that the Committee’s collective expertise would deliver practical and strategic outcomes.
In her vote of thanks, the Director of Investment Promotion, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Gertrude Orji, expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister for her strategic guidance and for inaugurating the Committee. She noted that the Minister’s remarks clearly outlined the expectations of Government and the principles guiding the Committee’s mandate, particularly the emphasis on aligning enhanced economic cooperation with Nigeria’s trade policy framework.
Mrs. Orji also commended members of the Committee for accepting the responsibility of national service and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary coordination and administrative support to ensure the effective functioning of the Committee and the timely delivery of its mandate.
The event concluded with a shared commitment by all stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s economic interests and strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Benin.