By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustained diplomatic engagement and constructive dialogue with the State of Israel as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Minister made this known while receiving the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nigeria, His Excellency Michael Freeman, during a courtesy visit on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. Discussions centred on Nigeria–Israel relations, developments in the Middle East, multilateral cooperation, and opportunities for enhanced collaboration across key sectors.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu underscored the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and high-level engagements in fostering stronger relations between both countries. She reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to continue engaging Israel on issues of shared interest and global importance, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to constructive engagement and diplomatic dialogue with the Israeli leadership.
The Israeli Ambassador congratulated the Honourable Minister on her appointment and conveyed a goodwill message from the Israeli
Foreign Minister, alongside an invitation for her to undertake an official visit to Israel. Ambassador Freeman highlighted the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and Israel and emphasised the need to revitalise high-level exchanges between both nations.
Both sides also exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East, including the security situation in Israel and wider regional tensions. Ambassador Freeman briefed the Minister on the humanitarian and security dimensions of the ongoing conflict and expressed optimism for peaceful resolutions and enhanced regional cooperation.
The meeting further explored prospects for expanded cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, innovation, technology, and security. Ambassador Freeman expressed confidence that Israeli expertise and technology could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s food security agenda and broader development objectives. Discussions also covered ongoing initiatives in medical support, innovation programmes, and technical cooperation.
On multilateral affairs, both parties discussed collaboration within international organisations, including the United Nations system and the World Health Organisation. They reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures, stronger multilateral cooperation, and sustained dialogue on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
