Nigeria and Libya are to mend their diplomatic relations, which were strained in March following comments by Libyan leader Mouammar Kadhafi suggesting that Nigeria should split along rel igious and ethnic lines as a solution to its recurring ethno-religious crisis.
According to a report published by the local Guardian newspaper Monday, both countries are to immediately normalise their diplomatic relations with the designation of ambassadors to each country within 14 days.
Nigeria reached out to Libya last week by sending its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia, as a Special Envoy of President Goodluck Jonathan, to the North African country.
The minister was received in Tripoli by the Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi, and the two countries revisited bilateral matters ‘covering political, economic and cultural issues, the African Union as well as cooperatio n using the central and Saharan State umbrella (CEN-SAD).’
The statement issued at the end of the parley also held that Nigeria and Libya would work together and further consolidate the historic cultural and social ties of their peoples, as well as increase and consolidate political cons ultation between the two countries at all levels, especially in the areas that a r e of importance to the African continent, in particular, the enhancement of African Union and the CEN-SAD Community towards African integration.
They also agreed to explore the establishment of strategic and economic projects that are beneficial to the two brotherly people and to the continent; and exchange visits by officials of two countries at all levels in order to establis h the framework for the realisation of the issue agreed upon.
Nigeria recalled its ambassador to Libya, Alhaji Isa Aliyu Mohammed, in March’ for consultations’ following the comments by the Libyan leader.