Nigeria, Israel to strengthen bilateral ties through proposed joint commission
Nigeria and the State of Israel have indicated interest in establishing a joint commission that would drive and enhance their bilateral relations.
This comes as Israel expressed its readiness to deepen trade with Nigeria while collaborating in the areas of security, agriculture, health, education, and film production, among others.
This was disclosed during a meeting with the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Michael Freeman, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Complex in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, emphasized that people-to-people contacts make diplomacy effective, looking forward to closer ties between both countries and expanding the frontiers.
Ambassador Ojukwu commended the envoy for proposing a high-level dialogue between the two countries, assuring that both parties would work closely to actualise it.
“Israel is reputable in areas of security and counter-terrorism. We look forward to taking it beyond bilateral relations. We would want Nigeria to benefit from Israel’s technology, especially in the area of food security. The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working diligently to improve the lives of the poorest of the poor.
“The two hundred and fifty million dollars volume of trade you mentioned is nothing, we hope that our prospective investors come to Israel and explore export opportunities to the country. We are calling for more collaborations, we are happy that some are on in the area of security.
“We are asking for some joint commission where we can use it to drive and assess our bilateral relations.
“Also, we hope that there could be some bilateral agreement in the area of Nollywood production. It’s a successful industry in Nigeria and we would like collaboration in this sector.”
Ojukwu highlighted that Nigeria contributes significantly to religious tourism in Israel, hence, her call for Nigerians who had stayed in the country for five years without criminal records to be granted citizenship.
The Minister further commiserated with Israel over the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, stressing that it was a big dent in humanity.
She expressed the optimism that after the current ceasefire, tension would be de-escalated and the remaining hostages released.
Speaking earlier, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Freeman, noted that Israel and Nigeria have had a very interesting diplomatic history.
He congratulated the Minister on her recent appointment and was upbeat that her coming would enliven the relationship between both countries.
He put the Nigeria-Israel volume of trade at $ 250 million before the Hamas conflict and expressed enthusiasm that it would improve.
“There is an opportunity for a very strong relationship with Nigeria. We’re looking for how we can build strong bilateral relations in agriculture, water management, education, and health.
“With drip irrigation technology, we can grow rice anywhere. By next week, I will display that by planting rice on our farm at the embassy. We hope that Nigeria will take advantage of this advanced technology for rice production.
“We hope to do projects in health; advanced surgeries, and malaria. We are doing well in early education. We also have i-FAIR, the highly innovative entrepreneurship mentorship programme in Nigeria. This is a breeding ground for future business leaders and innovators. We have trained 2,000 people but hope to double the number. The aim is to have knowledge transfer to Nigerians without necessarily going to Israel.”
Ambassador Freeman disclosed that there is a film co-production agreement between both countries but is “somewhere stuck in the Nigerian system for over on year now. And I am aware that Israel/Nigeria are currently working jointly on a movie project. Israel will be happy to have high level dialogue with Nigeria, a practical dialogue that will be positive to us.”
While updating the minister on the conflict with Hamas, the Ambassador stressed that Israel had no territorial ambition in Gaza.
“Israel has no territorial desire or ambition. We don’t have any plans of staying in Lebanon. We left Gaza in 2005 and have no ambition to remain there but we can’t allow Hamas to control Gaza,” the ambassador said.
Others present at the meeting were the Director, Office of the Minister of State, Ambassador Innocent Iwejuo and Consul, Israeli Embassy, Abuja, Ms. Inbar Lipman Garden.
VON
