Nigeria and the Republic of Benin on Monday resolved to jointly rehabilitate the Lagos-Seme road to facilitate the free movement of goods and persons.

The decision was reached in Abuja at a closed-door meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and his Benin counterpart, Mr Boni Yayi.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Yayi said that they both expressed concern over the deplorable state of the road and the need to urgently rehabilitate it.

Yayi, who spoke through an interpreter, said that they also agreed on the need for both countries to hold a joint cabinet meeting to consider issues of bilateral priorities.

"The issue of the condition of the Seme Badagry road has also been discussed because the road is now in a completely bad state and needs urgent rehabilitation.

"The two heads of state have agreed on the need to rehabilitate the road because the free movement of persons, goods and capital is very essential. "Just like France and Germany are doing now and used to do in the past, President Yayi has proposed that the cabinets of Benin Republic and Nigeria meet here and take stock of the priorities of the two countries. "To this, President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed," he said.

Both leaders also agreed on the need to hold the meeting of the Joint Commission between Nigeria and Benin, which was last held in 2009.

"The two countries called for the convening of a meeting soon, to take stock of the worrying problems of the time.

"Right away, the Nigeria Customs and Benin Customs are holding a meeting whereby they will take stock of all the problems," he said.

Yayi commended the Federal Government for its efforts at tackling the security challenges posed by Boko Haram in some states in the Northern part of Nigeria. He commended Jonathan for the leadership role Nigeria was playing within the ECOWAS sub-region, especially at securing the sub-region.

The Benin president said that they also discussed the political and security situation in Mali and Guinea and commended the efforts of the AU and ECOWAS in resolving the crises in both countries.

Yayi also commended the maritime joint security operations being carried out by both countries to fight piracy in their joint maritime coast.

He said the efforts had helped to foster stability, security and peace, "which are necessary conditions for achieving prosperity and development in both nations".

NAN