Nigeria and Israel have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in security, defence, agriculture, technology, healthcare and trade, as both countries move to deepen their longstanding relationship.
The renewed commitment was made during the valedictory visit of the outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended Freeman for his contributions to advancing Nigeria-Israel relations during his diplomatic tenure. She reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to expand collaboration with Israel in critical areas such as counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, border security, security financing and capacity building.
The minister also stressed the importance of fostering stronger partnerships between Nigerian startups and Israeli technology firms to drive innovation and economic growth. She added that Nigeria could benefit from Israel’s expertise in water management and modern agricultural practices to boost productivity and enhance food security.
In his remarks, Freeman described Nigeria as “an amazing country” with warm and welcoming people, noting that sustained engagement between both nations remained vital to unlocking the full potential of their bilateral ties.
The envoy reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in key sectors including innovation, agriculture, healthcare, education, skills development and security. He also expressed optimism that bilateral trade between the two countries, currently estimated at about $200 million annually, would grow significantly in the coming years.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared resolve of both countries to expand cooperation across strategic sectors, with both sides expressing confidence that strengthened partnerships would yield mutual economic and security benefits.