Presidency on Monday, said President Muhammadu Buhari and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson have taken a common stand on the future of the Commonwealth on the backdrop of the planned exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
This common position is coming on the heels of the formal exit of Britain from the European Union, with the stage now set for a new trade regime between the UK and its old partners as well as an alignment with new trading partners.
In a statement by the President’s Spokesman, Garba Shehu, Presidency revealed that “President Muhammadu Buhari, understanding the inevitability of the situation, had stated earlier of the opportunities presented by Nigeria and indeed other nations of the Commonwealth in the emerging trade scenario occasioned by the Brexit”
Presidency also. noted that it is therefore heart-warming that Prime Minister Boris Johnson also believes that indeed, a new dawn awaits the United Kingdom in its trade relationship with countries within the Commonwealth, Nigeria inclusive as reflected in his speech earlier Monday in Greenwich.
President Buhari had on the eve of the ‘UK- Africa Investment Summit’ in London in January, stated that “I – like many other Commonwealth leaders – also seek a new settlement: not only of closer relations between the UK and my own nation, but of unleashing trade within the club in which we together shall remain.”
Presidency noted that Nigeria has a huge population of nearly 200 million made of largely of vibrant and energetic young men and women brimming with ideas, and being the largest economy in Africa.
He said the country “looks forward to a trade engagement with the United Kingdom which will undoubtedly present for Nigeria and indeed the Commonwealth a mutually benefiting dawn”
President Buhari is therefore optimistic that the forthcoming Commonwealth meeting in June promises to be one to look forward to by all participants.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
