NIgeria and the Republic of Benin have taken a step toward strengthening economic ties by endorsing a Framework for Enhanced Economic Cooperation aimed at boosting bilateral trade and regional integration.

The agreement, formalised during a high-level ministerial meeting, followed bilateral engagements at the West Africa Economic Summit 2025, held in Abuja on June 21. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Benin’s President Patrice Talon witnessed the signing of the commitment, which sets the stage for deeper trade and investment relations between both nations.

In a statement, the Federal Government described the development as a key milestone in its regional economic diplomacy agenda. The endorsed framework focuses on four key pillars: Trade in Goods, Trade in Services and Private Sector Engagement, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, and Legal and Institutional Issues.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, led the Nigerian delegation. Other Nigerians included the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi; and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nura Rimi.

Senior Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Romuald Wadagni, led the Beninese delegation. Other officials included the Minister of Justice and Legislation, Yvon Detchénou; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Bakari; and the Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Assouman.

Speaking at the event, Oduwole said the framework “reflects our trade policy’s alignment with Economic Community of West African States, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and World Trade Organisation frameworks, and underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering win win outcomes for Nigeria, the West African subregion, and the broader African continent.”

She noted that negotiations toward a detailed Memorandum of Understanding based on the framework would commence in the fourth quarter of 2025, with a conclusion expected in the first quarter of 2026.

The Federal Government added that it welcomed the agreement reached, stressing that the move would facilitate structured, rule-based cooperation between the countries’ trade and customs agencies.

Officials from both nations expressed optimism that the initiative would ease trade barriers, promote investment, and build institutional linkages to support long-term economic growth.

The development comes amid efforts by the Tinubu administration to deepen sub-regional integration and align Nigeria’s trade agenda with continental goals under the AfCFTA.