• Angola
• Bayelsa State
• DIRI
• Namibe

DIRI SEEKS ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN AFRICA’S SUB-NATIONALS

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 1 month
• 0
• 2 min read

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has advocated for economic cooperation between states in Africa, saying such cooperation would promote African unity, boost the economies of the sub-nationals, and reduce economic dependence on the Western world. “We have discovered that relationship between governments has not been very cordial across the continent of Africa,” Chief Press Secretary Daniel Alabrah quoted Governor Diri as saying in a statement. “We rather prefer to value our relationship with Europe and Asia.” Daniel Alabrah said the governor stated this during a meeting with the Governor of the Province of Namibe in Angola, Mr. Archer Mangueira. Governor Diri noted that Bayelsa and Namibe shared similarities as coastal states bordering the Atlantic Ocean and that both states could benefit from areas where they had comparative advantage. Bayelsa (Top) Namibe (Bottom) Alabrah stated that discussions between the two leaders centred around exploring opportunities for collaboration in the fishery sector, as Namibe has developed its marine economy to become the fishery hub of Angola and the southern African sub-region. Governor Diri expressed interest in collaborating with Namibe in fisheries, agriculture, and other areas, saying “where you have comparative advantage, you produce, and where we have comparative advantage, we also produce.” Daniel Alabrah quoted Governor Diri as thanking his host, Archer Mangueira, for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation, saying it epitomised the true spirit of African brotherhood. In his remarks, Governor Mangueira described Namibe as the Land of Happiness and noted that there was a lot to learn and benefit from a huge country like Nigeria. He expressed excitement about the visit and the prospects for collaboration and investments. Alabrah said Governor Mangueira noted that Namibe was focusing on its tourism sector for economic development, adding that the province had a rich ecological biodiversity and a desert considered the oldest in the world. He also expressed interest in learning from Nigeria’s experience in the mining sector and agricultural development initiatives.