Ministerial delegations from the governments of the Republic of Benin and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have officially endorsed a framework for enhanced economic cooperation.

As part of the bilateral exchanges initiated by the two countries at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES 2025), held in Abuja on June 21, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in the presence of the leaders of both nations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Patrice Talon.

This commitment was made to deepen bilateral trade, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and advance regional integration in pursuit of shared prosperity for the peoples of both Nigeria and Benin.

The Nigerian delegation was led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and joined by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nura Rimi.

The Beninese delegation was headed by Senior Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Romuald Wadagni; Minister of Justice and Legislation, Yvon Detchénou; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, and Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman.

Oduwole explained that the agreement reached yesterday was structured around four thematic pillars: Trade in Goods; Trade in Services and Private Sector Engagement; Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, and Legal and Institutional Issues, saying the framework would guide the negotiation of the MoU.

This, she said, would begin in Q4 2025, with the conclusion targeted by Q1 2026.