Nigeria, Japan strengthen bilateral ties to boost trade, development, food security

By Kunle Sanni

Nigeria is set to strengthen its ties with Japan in a bid to enhance trade relations and explore opportunities in critical areas such as infrastructural development, food security, and healthcare.

Vice President Kashim Shettima made this commitment during a meeting with a Japanese delegation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

The delegation, led by the outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, and the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, was assured by Shettima that all pending issues in the bilateral relations between the two nations would be resolved.

He emphasized the Nigerian government’s readiness to elevate its partnership with Japan, stating, “All the grey areas will be addressed. Be rest assured that in a couple of days, we are going to resolve all the grey areas and put our relationship on a new pedestal.”

Shettima praised Ambassador Kazuyoshi for his efforts in fostering the relationship between Nigeria and Japan, highlighting the presence of key officials, including the Central Bank Governor and two ministers, as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to this partnership.

The Vice President expressed particular appreciation to JICA for its ongoing support, especially in areas like health and disease control, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We are immensely grateful for JICA’s continuous commitment. Under Dr. Tanaka Akihiko’s leadership, JICA has played a vital role in strengthening ties between our two nations. Your contributions span across critical sectors of our economy, and we are particularly thankful for the recent ¥1.75 billion grant to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to enhance its diagnostic capacity,” Shettima said.

He also acknowledged JICA’s role in Nigeria’s successful polio eradication campaign, which led to the country achieving polio-free status in 2020. The Vice President encouraged JICA to continue its efforts in making Nigeria a hub for disease control in West Africa, and potentially across Africa.

Addressing the delegation, Shettima expressed best wishes to Ambassador Kazuyoshi as he embarks on his next diplomatic assignment.

Dr. Akihiko, President of JICA, also expressed solidarity with Nigeria over the recent flooding that affected several communities, particularly in Maiduguri. He extended gratitude for Nigeria’s continued collaboration, noting JICA’s involvement in various development projects, including the Nigeria Information Technology Centre, where he lauded the innovation and creativity of Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs.

Ambassador Kazuyoshi further revealed that Japan will host an International Conference on African Development in Tokyo next year, aimed at strengthening Japan-Nigeria relations.

Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement, highlighted JICA’s contributions to Nigeria’s food security through emergency support loans. He also pointed to JICA’s support for the rehabilitation and reinforcement of the Lagos transmission substation, a project crucial for providing uninterrupted power supply to the Apapa Wharf and elevating the port to international standards.

Present at the meeting were key government officials, including the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso; and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia.