President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening international partnerships and swiftly implementing all agreements reached with the Republic of Colombia.
Speaking while receiving Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, at the State House in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu said Nigeria is poised to strengthen cooperation with the South American nation, particularly in trade, aviation, and cultural exchanges. He noted that global economic volatility requires new partnerships for shared prosperity, assuring that Nigeria will replicate with Colombia the agreements it recently signed with Brazil on aviation and consular issues.
“I believe the Vice President and his team have done the job. Our business opportunities with Colombia have already been enhanced. Particularly for Colombia, the agreement we entered with Brazil can easily be replicated in aviation, and our diplomatic relations can be enhanced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accelerate that,” President Tinubu said.
The President urged Colombian business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as well as in agriculture, stressing that the country’s youthful population offers both a vast market and a skilled workforce.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who supervised the bilateral meetings, said the visit would rekindle ancestral connections disrupted by slavery and colonialism, while also advancing political, cultural, and economic cooperation between both nations.
On her part, Vice President Márquez said her historic visit to Nigeria, as the first black Vice President of Colombia, would mark the beginning of a long-lasting partnership built on cultural heritage and shared values. She identified aviation, visa facilitation, political consultations, cultural exchanges, and trade as key areas for collaboration.
“We have had a meeting with business leaders in aviation on the need to start direct flights to Colombia. Relations with Nigeria will benefit both countries, especially in areas such as social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity,” she added.
The meeting was attended by senior Nigerian government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Coordinating Minister of Finance and Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.