Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday in Abuja met behind closed doors with President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The meeting, which took place at the Aguda House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, lasted for more an hour.

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President said in a statement that during the meeting that followed the two leaders highlighted the critical role that Nigeria and Ghana play as the “centerpiece” of ECOWAS and the West African sub-region.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo thanked Osinbajo for receiving his delegation on a special day, when Nigeria was commemorating Eid El-Fitr.

He said that his visit was part of an ongoing tour of the sub-region to “take stock of what’s going on, and to renew relations.”

Akande said Osinbajo on his part thanked the Ghanaian President for visiting Nigeria, adding, “We’re extremely excited about the ECOWAS sub-region and hope that we will be able to do a lot together.”

The presidential aide further revealed that discussions between the two leaders touched on the forthcoming African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, ongoing negotiations on the Continental Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), and the revitalization of the Ghana-Nigeria Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation. Both leaders pledged to intensify bilateral cooperation for the benefit and development of the sub-region.

The Ghanaian President also extended his good wishes to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Members of the President Akufo-Addo’s delegation included Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and Minister of National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah; and officials of the Foreign Ministry.

News Agency of Nigeria recalled that Akufo-Addo first visited Nigeria on Dec. 19, 2016, where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Akufo-Addo later attended the Imo State Thanksgiving Day in Owerri.