Israel and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral relations, with renewed focus on security, agriculture, healthcare, technology, innovation and trade.
The renewed commitment was made during a farewell visit by Israel’s outgoing Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, according to a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, Mr Freeman reiterated Israel’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in areas including innovation, education, agriculture, healthcare, security and skills development.
He described Nigeria as a hospitable nation with friendly people, stressing that continuous engagement between both countries would help unlock greater opportunities in their longstanding relationship.
”We are fully prepared to deepen our partnership with Nigeria. We believe the post-election period will create more opportunities for collaboration, particularly in defence and security,” the ambassador said.
Mr Freeman disclosed that annual trade between both countries is currently estimated at about $200 million, noting that the figure falls short of its full potential. He expressed confidence that Nigeria and Israel would significantly increase their trade volume in the coming years.
In her remarks, Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu praised the outgoing envoy for his diplomatic service, saying his tenure strengthened ties between the two nations and created a strong foundation for his successor.
She noted that Mr Freeman served in Nigeria during a crucial period, adding that his efforts had deepened mutual understanding and reinforced bilateral relations.
The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Israel in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, security financing, capacity building for security personnel and other strategic security initiatives.
She emphasised that security remains a top priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as the foundation for national development.
Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu further called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian startups and Israeli technology companies, saying such partnerships could drive innovation and economic growth.
She added that Nigeria also intends to leverage Israel’s expertise in water management and agricultural technology to improve food production and boost productivity.
The meeting concluded with both countries expressing optimism about building a stronger and more productive partnership in the years ahead.
Israel, Nigeria Renew Pledge to Deepen Bilateral Ties Across Key Sectors
31
