President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and aligning its foreign policy with global trends in trade, politics, and culture.
Speaking at the State House, Abuja, on Monday while receiving Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, Tinubu said shifting international dynamics and economic volatility make it imperative for Nigeria to forge new alliances for shared prosperity.
The President assured the Colombian delegation — comprising senior government, business, and diplomatic officials — that Nigeria will replicate with Colombia the agreements recently signed with Brazil on aviation and consular matters.
“I believe the Vice President and his team have done the job. Our business opportunities with Colombia have already been enhanced. I support every aspect that you have agreed on,” Tinubu said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“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.”
The President urged Colombian business leaders to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, as well as agriculture, noting that Nigeria’s youthful and skilled population offers a vibrant market for investors.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who has been supervising the bilateral meetings, said Márquez’s visit rekindles ancestral ties severed by slavery and colonialism, positioning both countries for stronger political, cultural, and economic cooperation.
On her part, Márquez — Colombia’s first black Vice President — expressed excitement at leading the mission, describing Nigeria as “the land of our ancestors.”
She listed aviation, visas, political consultations, cultural exchanges, and trade as priority areas for partnership, adding that direct flights between both countries are under discussion.
Read Also;
Clerics Slam Tinubu’s ‘Corruption-Free Nigeria’ Claim, Call Statement “Deceitful” and “Out of Touch”
Onanuga Blasts El-Rufai, Critics Calling for Tinubu’s Removal
“Our visit will kick-start a long-lasting relationship built on substantial cultural similarity and heritage,” Márquez said, stressing that collaboration will also focus on social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity.
She further noted that Nigeria’s leadership in Africa and the African Union’s efforts on restoration and reparation would bolster relations between Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
