Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba has called for robust collaboration between Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and its relevant counterparts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in strengthening existing bilateral relations between the countries.
Prince Agba made the call in Abuja when he received in audience the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AITaffag who was in his office to extend invitation to participate in his country’s trade and promotional campaign 2021 aimed at improving trade and bilateral relations with other countries.
The minister appreciated the enormous work UAE had been doing with ministries and states in Nigeria but noted that their activities had remained unreported due to lack of collaboration with the Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning saddled with coordinating bilateral relations and agreements.
Agba also noted that there was no report of UAE’s activities on the Development Assistance Database (DAD) platform.
He said: “When we have the data we can properly brief the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on your activities in the country.”
He added that he was optimistic the visit would be a starting point for robust bilateral relations between the Ministry and the Embassy.
On the Dubai Expo 2021, the Minister of State said he would liaise with his colleague, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to work out modalities on how Nigeria could come in.
He expressed his readiness to work with the Embassy in making quotes/comments on bilateral relations of both countries as part of media promotion materials for the February campaign.
The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AITaffag, said the Expo, which is scheduled for later in November, 2021, would be part of the activities to mark their Independence Day celebrations.
Victoria Agba-Attah
D(Information) BNP
16/02/2021
