Israel and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral relations, with renewed focus on security, agriculture, healthcare, technology, innovation and trade.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎”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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎She noted that Mr Freeman served in Nigeria during a crucial period, adding that his efforts had deepened mutual understanding and reinforced bilateral relations.
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‎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.
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‎She emphasised that security remains a top priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as the foundation for national development.
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‎Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu further called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian startups and Israeli technology companies, saying such partnerships could drive innovation and economic growth.
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‎She added that Nigeria also intends to leverage Israel’s expertise in water management and agricultural technology to improve food production and boost productivity.
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‎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
