President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Paul Kagame have agreed to deepen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda following talks held in Kigali ahead of the Africa CEO Forum.
President Tinubu met with Kagame at the Urugwiro Presidential Villa shortly after arriving in Kigali for the summit.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, both leaders agreed to activate mechanisms aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
“Both leaders emphasised the importance of reviving the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission (JPMC), originally signed by both countries in 2021, as a vital platform for advancing their shared objectives,” the statement said.
The two presidents also agreed that Nigeria would host the next meeting of the commission.
During discussions on consular relations, President Tinubu revealed Nigerian government would consider adopting a similar visa policy to Rwanda’s existing arrangement for Nigerians.
“President Tinubu stated that Nigeria will seriously consider reciprocating Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free status for Nigerians in the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” the statement added.
The meeting also focused on activating pending Memoranda of Understanding between both countries in areas including tourism, illicit drug control, and anti-corruption cooperation.
According to the Presidency, the discussions reflected Tinubu’s commitment to “inter-African integration, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.”
The two leaders further exchanged ideas on implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area between both countries to improve trade and economic collaboration.
“Presidents Tinubu and Kagame exchanged ideas towards operationalising the African Continental Free Trade Agreement between the two countries,” the statement noted.
As part of efforts to boost regional trade and exports, Nigeria is also in discussions with RwandAir to expand cargo connectivity for Nigerian businesses across Africa.
“Nigeria, which last year established an air cargo corridor with Uganda Airways, is now in discussions with RwandAir to facilitate greater export opportunities for Nigerian businesses across the continent,” the Presidency stated.
The Africa CEO Forum is expected to begin in Kigali on Thursday.