The minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Ojukwu-Odumegwu, stated that Nigeria’s concerns about the “humanitarian situation in Gaza” were a major topic during her meeting with Sharren Haskel-Harpaz, the Israeli vice-foreign minister.
The two ministers met on Monday in Abuja for a round of political consultations between Nigeria and Israel.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ojukwu-Odumegwu said their discussions centered on important areas of mutual interest, as well as global issues, especially the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The minister confirmed Nigeria’s support for a “two-state solution,” a concept that has gained renewed international attention because of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ojukwu-Odumegwu also mentioned that Nigeria’s security priorities were a point of discussion, with a goal of expanding partnerships in innovation.
A joint communiqué from the meeting highlighted that both countries emphasized the importance of improving cooperation on “intelligence gathering and information sharing, particularly regarding terror financing, and the need for advanced security training.”
The minister also identified agriculture, water management, ICT, renewable energy, education, ports and border management as key areas for collaboration. They also discussed finalizing pending “memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on education and audiovisual co-production.”
Haskel-Harpaz reiterated Israel’s dedication to strengthening its “bilateral relations and cooperation with Nigeria.”