Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for deeper cooperation between Nigeria and Benin, saying the two countries share a common destiny rooted in history, trade and regional security.
Speaking at the inauguration of Benin’s new president, Romuald Wadagni, in Cotonou on 24 May 2026, Shettima said ties between Abuja and Porto-Novo were vital to strengthening democracy and stability in West Africa.
He disclosed that annual trade between the two nations stands at around $2bn, with an estimated five million Nigerians living in Benin, which has a population of about 15 million.
"Nigeria and Benin Republic have deepened cooperation in border security, grassroots governance, trade facilitation and infrastructure development as part of broader regional integration efforts under ECOWAS," he said.
Shettima pointed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August last year that formalised grassroots cooperation between local governments, traditional rulers and border communities.
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He revealed the agreement aims to tackle cross-border crime and improve socio-economic links.
The arrangement, he added, covers direct cooperation between Nigerian border local government areas and neighbouring communities in Benin, particularly in towns such as Seme, Igbokofi and Ilara.
According to the vice president, the framework has already improved commercial activity, agriculture, infrastructure and local security coordination.
Shettima stressed that it has also opened new opportunities for businesses and residents in border areas.
He further asserted that both countries are implementing regional trade and economic frameworks under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the Common External Tariff (CET) system to improve the business environment and accelerate integration.
"As ECOWAS member states, both countries continue to uphold the protocol on free movement of persons, allowing citizens to stay within each other’s territories for up to 90 days without visa requirements," Shettima said.
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