● Chijioke Ogbodo
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the State of Israel are exploring the establishment of a joint commission to bolster their diplomatic and economic relations. The initiative aims to enhance collaboration in key sectors, including security, agriculture, health, education, and the film industry.
This development emerged during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Michael Freeman, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.
Ambassador Ojukwu expressed Nigeria’s keen interest in deepening ties with Israel, particularly in technological advancements that could address food security challenges. She emphasized the importance of people-to-people connections in fostering effective diplomacy.
“We look forward to taking our relations beyond bilateral agreements. Israel is globally recognized for its expertise in security and counter-terrorism, and we are eager to learn from its technological advancements, especially in food security,” she stated.
The Minister commended Israel’s proposal for a high-level dialogue in Abuja and assured that Nigeria would work diligently to actualize it. She noted that such engagements would serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships and driving mutual economic growth.
Highlighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Ojukwu reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians, particularly through enhanced agricultural productivity.
“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is working to ensure that the most impoverished Nigerians have access to food and other essential services. We are open to adopting modern agricultural technologies such as drip irrigation, which can significantly boost rice production,” she added.
On trade, the Minister described the $250 million trade volume between Nigeria and Israel as relatively low, calling for increased investments and market expansion. She urged prospective investors to explore export opportunities between both nations.
“We are seeking stronger collaborations, and we are pleased with the ongoing cooperation in the area of security. However, we believe a joint commission would provide a structured mechanism to assess and drive our bilateral relations,” Ojukwu stated.
The Minister also underscored the immense potential in Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood, and called for bilateral agreements that would facilitate co-productions and knowledge exchange in the entertainment sector.
Furthermore, she highlighted Nigeria’s significant contribution to religious tourism in Israel and advocated for Nigerian residents in Israel who have maintained a clean record for at least five years to be granted citizenship.
Ambassador Ojukwu also conveyed Nigeria’s condolences to Israel over the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, describing the incident as a tragic event for humanity. She expressed hope that ongoing ceasefire efforts would lead to de-escalation and the release of hostages.
“What happened on October 7 was a terrible stain on humanity. It was traumatic for many, and no one could have imagined such an incident occurring in the 21st century. We stand with Israel and hope that global efforts will ensure such acts do not happen again,” she remarked.
Right to Left: Ms Inbar Lipman Garden, Consul, Israeli Embassy, Abuja, H.E. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Hon. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Michael Freeman, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria and Permanent Rep to ECOWAS, and Ambassador Innocent Iwejuo, Director, Office of the Hon. Minister of State, during a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by the Israeli Ambassador.
In his remarks, Ambassador Freeman reaffirmed the longstanding diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Israel. He expressed optimism that Ojukwu’s leadership would revitalize bilateral relations and foster deeper cooperation in key sectors.
“We see an opportunity for a very strong relationship with Nigeria. Our focus areas include agriculture, water management, education, and health. With drip irrigation technology, rice can be grown anywhere. We will demonstrate this by planting rice at our farm in the embassy next week,” Freeman announced.
The Israeli envoy also spoke on ongoing collaborations in health and education, including i-FAIR, an innovative entrepreneurship mentorship program in Nigeria that has trained 2,000 individuals and aims to double its reach.
“We are implementing projects in health, including advanced surgeries and malaria research. Additionally, i-FAIR has been a breeding ground for future business leaders and innovators. Our goal is to transfer knowledge to Nigerians without them needing to travel to Israel,” he stated.
Freeman further disclosed that a film co-production agreement between Nigeria and Israel had been stalled within the Nigerian system for over a year. He, however, confirmed that both countries were actively working on a joint movie project.
“We are ready for a high-level dialogue with Nigeria. It should be a practical engagement that benefits both nations,” the ambassador affirmed.
Addressing the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Freeman reiterated that Israel had no territorial ambitions in Gaza, emphasizing that the country’s objective was to prevent Hamas from controlling the region.
“Israel has no plans to stay in Lebanon or Gaza. We left Gaza in 2005 and have no desire to remain there. However, we cannot allow Hamas to control the territory,” he stated.
Also present at the meeting were the Director, Office of the Honourable Minister of State, Ambassador Innocent Iwejuo, and the Consul of the Israeli Embassy in Abuja, Ms. Inbar Lipman Garden. GMTNewsng
