POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC BILATERAL RELATIONS: AN OVERVIEW
It is noteworthy to underline the ever improving relations between Italy and Nigeria, especially at the level of the political and commercial initiatives, carried out in the last past years.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS have been signed by Italy and Nigeria in the areas of: IMMIGRATION (in 2000 with a readmission agreement ratified by Nigeria in 2002, and a Memorandum of Understanding against the trafficking of human beings, in 2003); Promotion and protection of INVESTMENTS (which came into force on 22nd August 2005); DEBT CANCELLATION (17th December 2005).
1) With regards to the IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT, Nigeria is the only Sub-Saharan African country to have signed such treaty with Italy. The agreement provides for the readmission of respective citizens whose positions are found to be irregular, as well as - on the Italian part - technical and material assistance, training courses, and cooperation in the area of control of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, which form part of the integration process of the readmitted persons in their national society. In the framework of this agreement, Italy donated to Nigerian Government equipments and materials in 2002 (for over 2,5 million US$); in 2004 (with goods worth 1 million Euro); and in 2005 (5 million Euros) in vehicles and equipments donated by the Italian Government to the Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
In the related field of curbing the TRAFFICKING OF HUMAN BEINGS, Italy fully financed a multi-bilateral programme of 776,000 euro worth, to prevent and combat the trafficking of children and women from Nigeria to Italy. The project was implemented in 2003 and 2004, resulting in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Italy and Nigeria against trafficking and organized crime. In furtherance of the above MoU, Italy made a significant financial contribution to the establishment of a National Monitoring Center in Abuja, to be managed by NAPTIP for the purpose of exchanging information and creating a data bank of victims involved and rescued from trafficking.
Italy and Nigeria have also worked out ways and means of legalizing the status of would-be immigrants. In this regard, Italy has introduced since 2002 the so-called “reserved entry-quotas” which allocates a certain number of slots to Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerian workers wanting to find a job in Italy. For the year 2006, Nigeria’s quota stands at 2,500.
2) The issue of DEBT CANCELLATION constitutes another important aspect of the co-operation between our two Countries and a genuine proof of Italy’s commitment to strengthen our bilateral relationships. Italy decided to write off Nigerian debt, amounting to 1.5 billion Euro, by signing a bilateral debt reorganization agreement on 17th December 2005. This agreement is fully in accordance with the Italian Law n. 209 of 25 July 2000 which establishes measures to reduce foreign debt for the highly indebted poor countries. Italy’s gesture of writing off Nigerian’s external debt has also been an acknowledgement of the improvement in the governance of the Country, which deserves our utmost support to give young Nigerian generations better conditions of life and make them strengthen our bilateral friendship.
3) Concerning THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS between our two Countries, Italy is one of the most important economic partners of Nigeria being her 10th importer Country and the 7th exporter Country. About 40% of Italian exports to Nigeria are composed of industrial machineries, household electrical products and refined petroleum products. Nigeria, on the other hand, is Italy’s second most important trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa both in terms of exports and imports. Italy’s presence in Nigeria’s industrial sector is mainly the Petroleum (upstream and downstream), Construction and Services (Shipping, Trading, Oil and Gas Sub -Contracting).
In the petroleum sector, Italy is ably represented by the activities of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) of the Eni group, who have been in operation since 1965. Similarly, Italian construction companies have a long history of performance in Nigeria having been involved in the infrastructural development of the country. Prominent amongst them are: the Impregilo group of companies, Cappa D’alberto, Salini, Gitto Construction, Borini Prono, AG Ferrero, Eagles construction, Stabilini, etc. Furthermore, the Italian companies involved in maritime activities handle more than 30% of the entire Nigerian maritime traffic. These firms are: Ignazio Messina, Grimaldi shipping company, Lloyd Triestino, Comet shipping line, MSC Mediterranean shipping Company.
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