Nigeria and Japan are poised to enhance their bilateral relations, focusing on key areas such as trade, infrastructure, food security, and health.
This commitment was made during a meeting between Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and a Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Matsunaga Kazuyoshi and the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Vice President Shettima assured the delegation that all outstanding issues in the partnership would be promptly resolved, stressing the importance of continued cooperation with JICA, which has significantly supported Nigeria’s development.
He highlighted JICA’s recent ¥1.75 billion grant to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“All the grey areas will be addressed. With key stakeholders, including the CBN Governor and two major beneficiary ministries present, rest assured that in a couple of days, we will resolve all the outstanding issues and elevate our relationship to a new level,” Shettima said.
He expressed profound gratitude to JICA for its contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly the grant to the NCDC. “Your contributions align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, spanning critical sectors of our economy,” Shettima added, acknowledging JICA’s role in helping Nigeria achieve polio-free status in 2020.
Shettima encouraged further cooperation, envisioning Nigeria as a regional hub for disease control in West Africa and beyond. “With one in every four black men being Nigerian, we can serve as a hub for disease control for the entire continent,” he noted, referring to Japan as a “silent giant” for its significant contributions without seeking the spotlight.
In response, Dr. Akihiko expressed sympathy for the recent floods in Nigeria and commended the collaboration between Nigerian engineers and JICA.
He announced plans for an International Conference on African Development in Tokyo next year, aimed at deepening the partnership between Nigeria and Japan.
Akihiko also praised Nigerian engineers for their ingenuity, which has fostered strong collaboration with JICA, particularly in the information technology sector.
Ambassador Kazuyoshi reiterated Japan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria and confirmed that the Japanese government has maintained a strong focus on its partnership with the country.
He also mentioned the upcoming International Conference on African Development as a platform to enhance cooperation.
Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, lauded JICA’s support in addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges.
He noted that JICA’s involvement in the Lagos transmission substation rehabilitation project is pivotal to ensuring a 24-hour power supply to Apapa Wharf, which is essential for elevating the port to international standards.
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Water Resources Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia.