By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Côte d’Ivoire following high-level talks with the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Toure.
Ojukwu disclosed this on her X handle on Friday after receiving the envoy for discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between both countries and advancing the regional development agenda in West Africa.
She noted that Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have maintained longstanding cordial relations and sustained diplomatic engagements at both bilateral and multilateral levels over the years.
According to her, discussions during the meeting centred on expanding collaboration in critical sectors such as trade, investment, industrial development, security, culture, migration, consular affairs, and prisoner transfer arrangements.
Ojukwu described Côte d’Ivoire as one of Nigeria’s major trading partners in Africa, highlighting the country’s expertise in cosmetics, perfumes, coffee production, petroleum products, technical partnerships, and industrial manufacturing.
The minister further revealed that both countries reviewed existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and expressed commitment to reactivating and implementing pending bilateral agreements ahead of a forthcoming bilateral session scheduled to hold in Côte d’Ivoire.
She said the meeting also underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, institutional partnerships, and collaboration among governance and electoral institutions as key drivers of democratic consolidation, good governance, and regional stability.
On regional security, Ojukwu reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to stronger cooperation in combating terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational organised crime across the West African sub-region.
She stressed the need for Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen intelligence sharing, security collaboration, and coordinated regional responses to emerging security threats
Similarly, Ojukwu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Czech Republic following high-level discussions with the Czech Ambassador to Nigeria, Tomas Vyprachticky.
Ojukwu described the meeting as productive and engaging, noting that both countries explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in strategic sectors critical to economic growth and sustainable development.
According to her, discussions focused on expanding partnerships in trade, industrialisation, technical cooperation, technology transfer, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, and education.
The Czech envoy reportedly described Nigeria as a strategic partner with significant political and economic potential within Sub-Saharan Africa, while reaffirming the commitment of the Czech Embassy in Abuja to facilitating government-to-government and business-to-business partnerships.
He also highlighted ongoing developmental and commercial projects involving Czech institutions and several Nigerian states, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Ojukwu said both parties stressed the need to establish stronger institutional ties and promote sustainable development initiatives that would benefit both countries.
She further disclosed that discussions included plans to establish a joint commission mechanism aimed at coordinating cooperation in critical sectors and strengthening bilateral engagements between Nigeria and the Czech Republic.
