Nigeria will continue to strengthen its relationship with Japan to enhance trade and explore new opportunities in areas such as infrastructure development, food security, and health, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Vice President assured the Japanese government of Nigeria’s commitment to resolving any outstanding issues in their bilateral relations, while also fostering deeper cooperation between the two nations.
Shettima made these remarks during a visit from a Japanese delegation led by outgoing Ambassador Matsunaga Kazuyoshi and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President, Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He assured the delegation that any “grey areas” in the partnership would be swiftly addressed.
“Rest assured that in a couple of days, we will resolve all the grey areas and put our relationship on a new pedestal,” Shettima said, emphasizing the importance Nigeria places on its relationship with Japan and JICA.
The Vice President expressed gratitude for JICA’s contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly its recent ¥1.75 billion grant to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen its diagnostic capacity. He also commended JICA’s support in helping Nigeria achieve polio-free status in 2020 and urged for continued collaboration in making Nigeria a hub for disease control in Africa.
Shettima also acknowledged the pivotal role JICA has played in various sectors of Nigeria’s economy, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” He expressed appreciation for Japan’s involvement in vital projects, such as the rehabilitation of the Lagos transmission substation, which will provide 24-hour electricity to Apapa Wharf.
Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, President of JICA, expressed his sympathy for Nigeria in light of recent flooding, particularly in Borno State. He praised the ingenuity of Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs during his visit to the Nigeria Information Technology Centre, affirming JICA’s continued support for development initiatives in the country.
Outgoing Ambassador Kazuyoshi expressed Japan’s interest in further strengthening its relationship with Nigeria and revealed plans for an International Conference on African Development to be held in Tokyo next year.
The meeting was attended by key figures, including the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev; CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, who highlighted Japan’s contributions to Nigeria’s food security and power infrastructure.
