Nigeria and Israel are set to enhance diplomatic and economic cooperation through a proposed joint commission aimed at fostering collaboration in key sectors such as trade, security, agriculture, health, education, and film production.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between both nations. She particularly expressed interest in Israel’s advanced drip irrigation technology, highlighting its potential to boost Nigeria’s food security.
Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, noted that trade between the two nations stood at $250 million before the Hamas conflict. He expressed optimism for further growth, citing Israel’s contributions to Nigeria’s health sector, entrepreneurship training, and partnerships with Nollywood. Freeman also called for the finalization of a long-delayed film co-production agreement between both nations.
During the meeting, Ambassador Ojukwu extended her condolences to Israel over the October 7 attacks and stressed the importance of peace and humanitarian support in the region. She also advocated for Nigerian citizens who have legally resided in Israel for over five years to be granted Israeli citizenship.
Also present at the meeting were Ambassador Innocent Iwejuo and Ms. Inbar Lipman Garden, underscoring the high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
The proposed joint commission is expected to serve as a framework for deeper cooperation, fostering mutually beneficial initiatives across various sectors.
