Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire deepen trade and security ties

Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across trade, security and regional development following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Abuja.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, met the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Toure, where both sides reaffirmed what they described as “longstanding cordial relations” between the two West African nations.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions focused on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, industrial development, security, culture, migration and consular matters.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Côte d’Ivoire remains one of Nigeria’s key trading partners in Africa and called for deeper cooperation in sectors such as cosmetics, perfumes, coffee production, petroleum products and manufacturing.

Both countries also reviewed existing Memoranda of Understanding and expressed optimism about implementing pending agreements at a forthcoming bilateral session scheduled to hold in Côte d’Ivoire.

The talks also highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy and institutional cooperation in strengthening democratic governance and regional stability across West Africa.

Security issues featured prominently, with both sides reiterating the need for coordinated efforts against terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.

They stressed the importance of intelligence sharing and joint regional responses to emerging security threats in the sub-region.

The meeting further explored possible frameworks for prisoner transfer arrangements involving sentenced nationals, in line with legal provisions and bilateral agreements.

Both Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire pledged to sustain high-level engagements and strengthen institutional coordination in order to advance mutual interests and promote stability in West Africa.

Sandra Chukwugekwu