Nigeria and Japan Pledge to Strengthen Global Cooperation

Nigeria and Japan have promised to work more closely together on international issues, including reforms at the United Nations and efforts to promote global peace.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made this known after a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya. The meeting took place during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).

Key Points from the Meeting:

• Economic Cooperation: Nigeria invited Japan to invest in important sectors such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and digital technology.
• Technical Support: Both countries discussed opportunities for Japan to help Nigeria with vocational training, renewable energy, and climate-friendly farming.
• Security and Peacekeeping: They also talked about improving regional security, fighting terrorism, and ensuring safety in the Gulf of Guinea.
• Technology and Innovation: Nigeria encouraged Japanese technology companies to join its Smart City and Digital Economy projects. The two countries also agreed to cooperate more in science, innovation, and healthcare.

Ambassador Tuggar praised Japan for hosting TICAD 9 and for its long-term support for Africa’s development. He also invited the Japanese foreign minister to visit Nigeria soon. The two countries plan to create a Nigeria-Japan Strategic Partnership Framework to guide their future collaboration.

The discussions focused on inclusive growth, climate resilience, and peacebuilding, in line with the main goals of TICAD 9.