Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and advancing regional development through stronger cooperation in trade, security, industrial growth, and diplomatic engagement.
This was the outcome of a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Kalilou Toure, in Abuja.
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During the discussions, both countries reaffirmed their longstanding cordial relations and pledged to sustain regular diplomatic engagements at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
The talks focused on strengthening cooperation in critical sectors, including trade, investment, industrial development, security, culture, migration, and consular affairs.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that Côte d’Ivoire remains one of Nigeria’s major trading partners in Africa, stressing the need to expand collaboration into areas such as cosmetics, perfumes, coffee production, petroleum products, technical partnerships, and industrial manufacturing.
Both sides also reviewed existing Memoranda of Understanding and expressed optimism over the reactivation and implementation of pending bilateral agreements during the forthcoming bilateral session scheduled to be held in Côte d’Ivoire.
The meeting underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, institutional partnerships, and collaboration between governance and electoral institutions as key tools for promoting democratic consolidation, good governance, and regional stability across West Africa.
On security matters, the Foreign Affairs Minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in combating terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational organised crime within the West African sub-region.
Both countries emphasised the need for intelligence sharing, enhanced security collaboration, and coordinated regional responses to emerging security challenges.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of sustained defence and security cooperation among West African states to promote peace, constitutional order, and regional stability.
In addition, both parties explored possible frameworks for prisoner transfer arrangements involving sentenced nationals, in line with applicable legal provisions and bilateral agreements.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by both countries to sustain high-level engagements, strengthen institutional coordination, and advance bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and the wider West African region.
