Vice President Kashim Shettima says about five million Nigerians living in the Benin Republic stand to benefit as Nigeria moves to deepen business, trade and economic cooperation with the neighbouring country under a broader regional integration push by the Tinubu administration.
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Speaking in Cotonou on Sunday during the inauguration of Benin Republic’s new President, Romuald Wadagni, Shettima said Nigeria sees its relationship with Benin as strategic not only for regional security and democracy, but also for cross-border commerce, mobility and economic growth.
The Vice President, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the ceremony, said the economic relationship between both countries has become increasingly important because of the large population of Nigerians living and doing business in Benin Republic.
According to him, trade relations between Nigeria and Benin currently stand at about $2 billion annually, while Nigerians account for roughly one-third of Benin’s estimated 15 million population.
“Our presence here in Cotonou underlines President Tinubu’s unwavering, deep-seated commitment to strengthening ties with our neighbours,” Shettima said.
He noted that both countries already share long-standing economic and cultural connections that continue to shape business activities across border communities.
“Our border with the Benin Republic stretches across nearly 600 kilometres, spanning six Nigerian states. Our cultural and historical ties run deep—we intermarry, and our communities overlap,” he stated.
The latest push is expected to improve trade facilitation, movement of goods, border security and infrastructure development, especially in commercial towns operating along the Nigeria-Benin corridor.
Shettima said Nigeria and Benin Republic have expanded cooperation under ECOWAS frameworks, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff system aimed at improving the business environment across West Africa.
Both countries also continue to uphold the ECOWAS free movement protocol, which allows citizens stay in each other’s countries for up to 90 days without visa requirements.
For Nigerian traders, transport operators and small businesses operating in border towns, the strengthened partnership could reduce bottlenecks affecting cross-border movement and commercial activities.
The Vice President referenced an existing Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries in August last year to deepen grassroots cooperation between border communities, local governments and traditional rulers.
The agreement covers areas including border security, agriculture, infrastructure and trade coordination in communities such as Seme, Igbokofi and Ilara.
According to Shettima, the arrangement has already improved commercial activities and created new economic opportunities for businesses and residents operating within the border region.
He added that Nigeria and Benin must continue working together to strengthen economic prosperity, democratic governance and regional stability across the ECOWAS sub-region.
