NIGERIA and the Philippines Thursday reignited their Joint Commission in order to cooperate on a higher level in the mutually identified areas of agriculture and food security, health, education and other relevant fields.

Curiously, both countries are only just having a second session in their joint commission which was signed in 1981, and their first meeting holding in Manila in 1986.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, who led the Nigerian delegation to the talks  in Abuja lamented that despite the increasing informal trade and very healthy bilateral relations between both countries economic and real trade relations “have been quite low”

“While it is heartening to note that there have been an increasing number of Filipino companies conducting businesses in Nigeria, which signifies a push in this direction, there is yet much to be done to improve our economic and trade relations”, she said.

Besides, agriculture, health and education, the minister who listed other areas where advanced, mutually beneficial co-operation are in dire need to include, water resources, immigration, tourism and justice, the minister said the resolve by the two countries to “break the set- backs that have impeded the reconvening of the Joint Commission since its establishment is a clear demonstration of the desire by both countries to broaden bilateral relations”

“Our collective will, desire and focus should be the institution of a solid base for agreements in the identified sectors for collaboration which ultimately will lead to the achievement of a fruitful deliberations. I am aware that many far-reaching decisions were taken at the inaugural session of the Joint Commission which are yet to be fully implemented.

We should in addition aspire to implement these decisions”, the minister added. In his remark shortly before the technical session commenced, the leader of the Philippines’ delegation and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio said, Manila would like to discuss “all aspects of bilateral relations exchange views on developments within our respective countries, discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest and jointly work with Abuja towards closer cooperation in the political, cultural, consular and labour-related fields”