The Tanzanian High Commission in Abuja, which announced the appointment recently, had her inaugurated last week in Lagos.
The High Commissioner, Dr Benson Bana, explained that the government of Tanzania decided to increase the country’s presence in Nigeria beyond Abuja to Lagos, largely because Lagos State is the fifth largest economy in Africa. Bana, who gave other reasons for the Lagos office, explained the anticipated benefits of Mabogunje’s appointment.
His words: “The appointment of the Honorary Consul is one of the measures that the government of Tanzania is undertaking to strengthen and promote people-to-people and business-to-business relations, which, consequently, would take Tanzania and Nigeria’s bilateral ties to new and advanced levels.
“The cordial diplomatic relationship between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated back to pre-independence days. Nigeria’s High Commission was opened in Tanzania in 1962 while Tanzania’s diplomatic mission to Nigeria was established in Lagos in 1971.
The relationship between the two sister countries is deeply rooted in mutually shared vision which is nested in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, the principles of African Union, the ideals of the commonwealth and the spirit of the non-aligned movement.”
Bana is optimistic that Mabogunje’s appointment would not only simplify consular services but would also propel economic diplomacy strategy which is at the heart of Tanzania’s foreign policy.
