THE Federal Republic of Nigeria celebrates its National Day today. It is the sixth largest petroleum producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The country has large deposits of tin, coal, columbite, iron ore, manganese, limestone, gold and uranium. Last year, crude, petroleum

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established during the opening of a Filipino mission on the Ambassadorial level in Lagos, Nigeria in 1964. Nigeria opened its mission in Manila in 1980. The relations between the two countries have been warm, cordial and friendly.

A number of agreements have been signed to strengthen the economic and cultural relations of the two countries.

In 1981, the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement was signed to explore possible areas of cooperation and strengthen existing economic cooperation. It also sought to evaluate joint ventures and encourage organized private sector participation in these joint ventures. Sessions of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) are held regularly in the two countries. The NigerianASEAN Chamber of Commerce was also established and has successfully made visits to the country, bringing its members closer to the Philippine business community.

In 1997, the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion of Taxes on Income Capital Gains was signed. It aims to increase the flow of investments in the two countries. There are about 15,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) engaged in the petrochemical oil, gas, aviation and construction sectors of Nigeria. Last year, the Philippines was third largest supplier of high-level manpower in Nigeria with over 8,000 OFWs.

In 1990, the Cultural and Education Agreement was signed to provide for a legal and procedural framework for the promotion of exchange programs and institutional linkages between the two countries in the fields of culture, education, science and health services.

We congratulate the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the occasion of their National Day.