Nigeria and Tunisia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, with both countries pledging closer cooperation in trade, investment, education, defence, technology, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
The commitment was made during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, in Abuja.
Congratulating the minister on her appointment, Ambassador Antit conveyed the greetings of the Tunisian government and called for the revitalisation of the Nigeria-Tunisia Joint Commission as a strategic platform for expanding cooperation across critical sectors.
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Welcoming the proposal, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the Joint Commission as an important mechanism for boosting trade, investment and economic collaboration between the two countries.
She stressed the need to create practical opportunities for Nigerian and Tunisian entrepreneurs through capacity-building programmes and partnerships in business and tourism.
“The Joint Commission is an important mechanism for promoting trade, investment and economic collaboration between our two countries,” the minister said, adding that both nations should identify practical avenues for cooperation between their business communities.
Ambassador Antit disclosed that efforts were underway to improve air connectivity through proposed flight routes linking Tunis, Cotonou and Abuja. He also revealed plans to conclude agreements on visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic passports, defence cooperation and other areas of mutual interest.
The envoy further invited the minister to visit Tunisia to explore investment opportunities in the country’s expanding tourism sector.
On education and technology, Antit said Tunisia offers six fully funded scholarships annually to Nigerian students but noted that the opportunities remain largely underutilised. He also proposed the establishment of drone manufacturing facilities in Bauchi State to enhance technological and industrial cooperation.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu assured the ambassador that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would work with relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, to improve awareness and uptake of the scholarship programme.
“The Ministry will engage relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, to improve awareness and utilisation of the scholarship programme,” she said.
The meeting also focused on regional peace and security, with the Nigerian minister seeking Tunisia’s experience in tackling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons from Libya. Ambassador Antit explained that Tunisia had adopted a five-layer border security system to curb illicit arms trafficking.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to convening the Nigeria-Tunisia Joint Commission at the earliest opportunity and finalising pending bilateral agreements covering double taxation avoidance, defence cooperation, livestock development, legal and judicial cooperation, education, business promotion, technology transfer and visa-free arrangements for diplomatic passport holders.
They also pledged to sustain high-level engagements aimed at strengthening their longstanding bilateral partnership.
