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Nigeria will
continue to work with Mali and other member-countries of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure the speedy
realization of the sub-regional organisation’s objectives, Goodluck
Jonathan said yesterday in Abuja.

Speaking during an
audience with Mali’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahamane Amadou Maiga,
who was at the Presidential Villa to present his letters of credence,
Mr Jonathan said his administration will give “maximum cooperation” to
ambassadors of ECOWAS member-countries in the collective effort to
achieve greater economic integration and development in West Africa.

“Nigeria and Mali
have a lot in common,” he said. “We all have to work together to
strengthen our political and economic ties. We will give you maximum
cooperation to ensure that our sub-region moves forward,” the
president, who is the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads
of State and Government, told Mr Maiga.

At an earlier
audience with Nestor Padalhin, the new ambassador of the Philippines to
Nigeria, Mr Jonathan stated that the existing cordial relations between
Nigeria and the Philippines could be further strengthened with
increased bilateral trade.

The new ambassadors
thanked President Jonathan for receiving them soon after their arrival
in the country and assured him that they will do their best to enhance
existing relations between Nigeria and their countries.

They also used the opportunity to congratulate the president on Nigerian’s forthcoming 50th independence anniversary.