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Nigeria and Senegal have expressed appreciation to President John Atta Mills for strengthening sub-regional ties. Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan expressed admiration to the leadership style of President Mills and stressed the need for the two leaders to work towards strengthening their ties and relationship to new levels. Vice President Jonathan expressed the views in a message delivered by Mr. Ojo Madueke, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs to President Mills at the Castle, Osu. He said it was necessary to re-open the joint Ghana-Nigeria Commission of Trade and Peace which had stalled since 1996 to strengthen ties between the two nations. Mr. Madueke said Nigeria was going through trying times with the indisposition of President Omaru Musa Yar' Adua who undergoing treatment abroad. President Mills expressed appreciation for the visit and referring to the historical, economic and cultural ties that had existed between Ghana and Nigeria, described the nations as brothers and sisters. He wished President Yar' Adua a speedy recovery and all Nigerians a fulfilling year. The Senegalese Foreign Minister, Mr. Mamadou Fall, who delivered a message from Senegalese President Wade, thanked President Mills "for what Ghana has done for the well-being of Senegal". Mr. Fall stressed the need for the two nations to work for their common interest. President Mills said Ghana and Senegal had many areas of common interest with a sizeable Ghanaian population in that country.