Nigeria committed to constructive engagement and sustained diplomatic dialogue to advance mutual benefits- Bianca
Oru Leonard
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement and sustained diplomatic dialogue with the State of Israel as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and advance mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Honourable Minister made this known when she received in audience, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nigeria, His Excellency, Michael Freeman, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. Discussions during the meeting focused on Nigeria–Israel relations, regional developments in the Middle East, multilateral cooperation, and opportunities for expanded collaboration in strategic sectors.
Ambassador Odumegwu Ojukwu emphasized the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and high-level engagements in promoting stronger bilateral ties between both countries. She reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to continue engaging with Israel on issues of shared interest and global concern, while noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained open to dialogue and constructive engagement with Israeli leadership.
The Israeli Ambassador congratulated the Honourable Minister on her appointment and conveyed a congratulatory message from the Israeli Foreign Minister, alongside an invitation for the Honourable Minister to undertake an official visit to Israel.
Ambassador Freeman underscored the longstanding cordial relations between both countries and stressed the need to revive high-level official exchanges between Nigeria and Israel. Both sides discussed recent developments in the Middle East, including the security situation in Israel and ongoing regional tensions. Ambassador Freeman briefed the Honourable Minister on the humanitarian and security implications of the conflict and expressed hope for peaceful resolutions and greater regional cooperation.
The meeting also highlighted prospects for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, innovation, technology, and security. Ambassador Freeman expressed confidence that Israeli expertise and technology could support Nigeria’s food security objectives and broader development priorities.
Discussions equally covered ongoing initiatives involving medical support, innovation programmes, and technical cooperation between both countries. On multilateral affairs, both parties discussed collaboration within international organisations, including the United Nations system and the World Health Organisation, and reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures and cooperation in multilateral engagements, and continued dialogue on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
(MFA Media, Wednesday, 27th May 2026)
