Nigeria’s Vice President Shettima promotes deeper ties with Benin and Poland

Vice President Kashim Shettima attended the inauguration of Benin President Romuald Wadagni in Cotonou, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to a strategic partnership with its neighbour. He highlighted a $2 billion annual trade flow, the presence of five million Nigerians in Benin, and joint efforts on border security, trade facilitation and ECOWAS integration, citing a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding that links local governments across the border.

During a separate visit to Abuja, Shettima welcomed Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr Krzysztof Gawkowski and outlined plans to expand cooperation in defence, the digital economy, agriculture and ship‑building. He pointed to reforms such as foreign‑exchange liberalisation and tax harmonisation that aim to make Nigeria “open for business” and stressed the desire for mutually beneficial, technology‑driven partnerships with the European nation.