Nigeria, Israel move to deepen strategic partnership

Nigeria and Israel have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with discussions centred on security, health, technology, and economic cooperation.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, restated Nigeria’s position when the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, paid her a courtesy visit at Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr Magnus Eze, discussions between both officials covered defence and intelligence, economic cooperation, consular matters, religious tourism, and bilateral and multilateral relations.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria could benefit from Israel’s expertise in border security management, particularly amid ongoing efforts to tackle insurgency and terrorism.

She noted that enhanced cooperation would be further strengthened if the Nigeria–Israel Joint Commission was fully operationalized.

The minister also commended Israel’s pledge to donate about 60 fully equipped ambulances to Nigeria, describing the initiative as timely.

“These kinds of initiatives are very significant because we have challenges regarding first responders. For me, this is just the beginning of integrating an ambulance culture in Nigeria,” she said.

On his part, Freeman said Israel was keen to strengthen relations with Nigeria, describing the move as strategic, given Nigeria’s status as Africa’s most populous nation.