Abuja: In a renewed show of diplomatic alignment, Nigeria and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation, with a focus on UN reform, global peacebuilding, and inclusive development.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy.
The statement is the outcome of the meeting between the Ambassador. Tuggar and his counterpart, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
According to Tuggar, the commitment is to advance bilateral cooperation and strengthen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Japan.
He commended Japan’s hospitality and leadership in hosting TICAD 9, particularly cordial relations between both countries, Japan’s longstanding support for Africa’s development through TICAD and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Tuggar explained that the discussion between the two countries focused on expanding economic cooperation with Nigeria, inviting Japanese investment in priority sectors, such as energy transition, agriculture, infrastructure and the digital economy.
Additionally, Nigeria’s economic reforms aimed at improving the investment climate were reviewed, with opportunities identified for technical cooperation in vocational training, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture.
Others include: exchange of views on regional security, counterterrorism, maritime safety in the Gulf of Guinea and peacekeeping collaboration.
The minister invited Japanese technology companies to participate in Nigeria’s Smart City and Digital Economy initiatives and seek greater cooperation in science, innovation and health systems.
“In alignment with the priorities of TICAD 9-inclusive growth, climate resilience and peacebuilding, we reaffirmed commitment to enhancing multilateral cooperation, including on UN reform and global peace initiatives,” Tuggar said.
He further invited his Japanese counterpart, Iwaya, to visit Nigeria for follow-up consultations and proposed the establishment of a Nigeria–Japan Strategic Partnership Framework to guide future engagements.
