Nigeria’s Economic Crisis Affecting Us, Other African Nations, Says Beninese President

PMB-Patrice TalonPresident Patrice Talon of Benin Republic has disclosed that Nigeria’s economic downturn is affecting other African nations, especially, its neighbours.

The Beninese leader said the fact that Nigeria was not fully exploring her potentials was making other African countries to bear the brunt.

Talon, who was on a one-day state visit to Nigeria, spoke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday during a joint press briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The visiting president, who stressed that Nigeria was the engine room of West Africa, charged the Buhari administration to explore non-oil potentials to boost the country’s revenue profile and maintain its status as a big brother in Africa.

“As Nigeria is not using all its potentials, it is making other African countries suffer. The crisis hitting Nigeria is what is also hitting us. This is an opportunity for us to go back to develop other sectors”, he said.

He said he looked forward to strengthening the existing bilateral relations between his country and Nigeria, particularly in trade, economy, energy, development and education.

Talon also said that his country would collaborate with Nigeria in combating illegal trading activities in both nations.