President Bola Tinubu has asked bigger and richer Commonwealth countries to start buying more food and materials from African countries. This will help both sides trade more with each other.
In a thoughtful piece shared in a U.K. newspaper called the Telegraph, President Tinubu talked about wanting stronger trade among Commonwealth countries.
President Tinubu suggested that countries in the Commonwealth can buy things like coffee from African nations at special prices. In return, these countries can help build factories in Africa, which would create more jobs for people there and make local economies grow stronger.
He said, “Nigeria asks richer Commonwealth countries to consider buying food and materials from African countries in the Commonwealth. With trade agreements between us, there’s no reason African coffee or fresh produce couldn’t be given to Western Commonwealth countries at good prices. This can encourage investment in building factories here.”
“This idea not only ties our economies closer but also helps countries like Britain get products they don’t have. Plus, it creates jobs in Africa, so more people can stay and work at home rather than move away looking for opportunities.”
Africa on the U.N Security Council and Better Trade Relations
President Tinubu also talked about getting support from the Commonwealth for Africa to have a permanent place at the United Nations Security Council. He pointed out that Africa is the only continent not represented there, even though many decisions made by the council impact Africa a lot.
The President added that stronger trade between different parts of the world will help as the globe slowly moves away from just trading with nearby countries.
Tinubu said that countries in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) who are also part of the Commonwealth can make trade deals with others like Australia, India, and the U.K. This will help everyone trade more and better.
He praised the United Kingdom for its efforts in this area and encouraged others to do the same.
The Commonwealth is a group of friendly countries, including the United Kingdom and some of its former colonies, all working together and recognizing the British monarch as the symbolic leader.
The next big meeting of Commonwealth leaders will be in Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26 in 2024. This is the first time the meeting will happen in a small island nation in the Pacific.
President Tinubu has chosen Vice President Kashim Shettima to go to this event on his behalf.