Buhari Calls For Acceleration Of Pace Of Economic Integration In Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari late yesterday in
Nairobi called for an intensification of intra-
African trade and acceleration of the pace of
economic integration across the continent.

According to Garba Shehu, SSA on Media and Publicity, the President said this while Speaking at a banquet in his honour at the
conclusion of his state visit to Kenya, President
Buhari said that the expansion of trade relations
between Nigeria and Kenya in recent years
should be replicated by all other African
countries to speed up the pace of economic
development on the continent.

"We now have Nigerian industrialists establishing
cement plants in Kenya while Nigerian
telecommunications operators are learning and
adopting the Kenyan mobile banking model as a
tool for financial inclusion in rural Nigeria.

"We have Nigerian farmers coming to learn from
successful Kenyan farms while at the same time,
we have many up and coming Kenyan oil and gas
businesses partnering with Nigerian oil
companies.

"We have Nigerians drinking Kenyan coffee in
their homes and offices, while we have many
Kenyans listening to Nigerian music and
watching Nollywood movies
"These developments point to a real integration
on the continent beyond formal diplomatic
relationships. Greater intra-Africa trade will
ultimately result in the creation of millions of
jobs within Africa for Africans," President Buhari
said.

The President expressed the hope that Nigeria
and Kenya will continue to build on the mutually-
beneficial trade and economic relations between
them.
He called for the rapid implementation of all
bilateral agreements already signed by the two
countries and the convening of their Joint
Commission for Cooperation.

"As our two governments move ever closer, our
business communities will also take full
advantage of this momentum to increase trade
and economic activities.

"I feel confident that by the end of this visit,
new and solid bridges for movement of persons,
goods and services would have been
constructed," President Buhari said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that both
leaders agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation
on trade, investment and the fight against
corruption and terrorism.

Garba Shehu
SSA to the President
(Media & Publicity)