Nigeria and Japan have pledged to deepen their bilateral relations, focusing on trade, infrastructure, food security, and health. This commitment was made by Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima during a meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Matsunaga Kazuyoshi and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Shettima assured the delegation that unresolved issues in the partnership would be addressed promptly. “Be rest assured that in a couple of days, we are going to resolve all the grey areas and put our relationship on a new pedestal,” he stated.
The Vice President expressed gratitude for JICA’s contributions to Nigeria’s development efforts, particularly a recent ¥1.75 billion ($11,737,775) grant to enhance the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s diagnostic capabilities. JICA is a Japanese government agency that provides official development assistance to developing countries.
Shettima also acknowledged JICA’s assistance in polio eradication in the country in 2020 and its ongoing efforts to support Nigeria’s development as a hub for disease control in West Africa.
The Japanese delegation announced plans for an International Conference on African Development in Tokyo next year to further solidify ties between the two nations. They also expressed their admiration for the ingenuity and creativity of Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
