This came as President Goodluck Jonathan and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, met behind closed door, where issues bothering on free trade and economic cooperation among others were discussed.
However, it was gathered that the consideration for a waiver on visa requirements for some categories of citizens of its member states, followed accusations that the Commonwealth, which is a voluntary organisation of countries with a shared history of having been British colonies, was no more relevant in contemporary world with bilateral relations remaining at the level of government to government.
But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, after the meeting with Sharma, said the organisation was considering bringing back the visa waiver practice as was the tradition in the past for diplomatic and official passport holders.
He added that discussions were ongoing to consider an extension of the waiver to other categories of citizens such as academicians, business leaders and other professional groups that are easily identifiable.
“The matter would be thoroughly discussed at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2013.
“The Commonwealth Ministers’ conference has already recommended for approval at the next CHOGM meeting, the exception of holders of diplomatic and official passports within the Commonwealth from those required to obtain visas to travel within the member states,” Ashiru said.
Such concessions, Ashiru said, were expected to ensure that ordinary citizens feel the impact of the organisation.
Speaking further, the minister added that steps were being taken to strengthen trade and investment among member states and to promote youth empowerment programmes.
At the meeting, both sides also discussed ways to strengthen democracy and enhance the capacity of democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We need to look at the programme of education in most member states to ensure that they are adopted to a situation whereby graduates would become self-employed after leaving schools instead of searching for jobs,” Ashiru said.
Speaking also, Sharma said some studies have shown the ‘Commonwealth effect’ to be an entity that has huge economic potential for its member states including providing employment for the youth population.
He admitted that the citizens of the member states have not been fully integrated, stating that the visa waivers would be a very good step in that direction.
“It is the Commonwealth of the people and the movement of people is very intrinsic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ashiru, who had earlier led Sharma to Aso Rock, later told State House correspondents that the two leaders deliberate on many issues bordering on trade and free movement that are of mutual benefit to the group and Nigeria.
“We talked of what contribution can be made by the Commonwealth in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There was also the issue of deep bilateral collaboration between Commonwealth and Nigeria.
“This extends to the election commission that has been working for a very long time, the observers even in the last election. It extends to a software we keep and renew on debt management. We are also ready to work with the country in the area of public administration.
“So I am meeting a lot of ministers. I had a meeting in the morning with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance and discussed many of these issues especially as they relate to trade and liquidity which are in the forefront of our membership. Tomorrow (Tuesday), I hope I will have the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Trade,” Ashiru said.
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
Singer, Portable Weighs In On Mercy Johnson’s Drastic Weight Loss
I Faded Out Because I Became Less Ambitious’ Says Singer, Orezi
Ogun Female Broadcaster, Mrs. Bukola Agbakaizu Slumps And Dies at Work
Funke Akindele Makes List Of Hollywood’s ‘Most Influential Women In International Film’
VIDEO: Man Caught While Waiting For a Minor he Had Solicited S£x From Online