Nigeria and Thailand have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the meeting took place on the margins of the relaunch of the Thailand–Africa Initiative (TAI) in Bangkok.
Ambassador Tuggar congratulated his Thai counterpart on his recent appointment and extended condolences on behalf of Nigeria for the passing of Her Majesty The Queen Mother and for the victims of recent natural disasters in Thailand.
He praised the cordial relations between both countries and underscored Nigeria’s readiness to elevate the partnership to a strategic level spanning political, economic, cultural, and security cooperation.
Both sides noted ”the positive results of previous high-level engagements and agreed to sustain momentum through more frequent reciprocal visits.”
Ambassador Tuggar welcomed Thailand’s renewed outreach to the African continent through the Thailand–Africa Initiative, proposing collaborative projects that align with Nigeria’s national development priorities.
He also encouraged deeper ASEAN–ECOWAS cooperation, expressing Nigeria’s long-term vision for an eventual ASEAN–ECOWAS Summit.
Discussions highlighted the need to expand trade beyond traditional commodities such as Nigeria’s crude oil exports and Thailand’s rice and machinery exports.
Nigeria’s Minister proposed new areas of diversification, particularly in agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, and renewable technologies.
He also identified opportunities for defence industry collaboration, technology transfer, and investment in ICT and agricultural value chains, noting Nigeria’s strong incentives and access to a large consumer market.
Ambassador Tuggar commended Thailand’s scholarship programmes and capacity-building initiatives for Nigerian students and professionals, calling for their expansion.
He praised the ongoing Sustainable Agricultural Technology Development Project and encouraged both countries to scale up activities, deepen research collaboration, and jointly explore innovative approaches to sustainable farming.
The Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment as BRICS partners and explored opportunities for reciprocal support within multilateral frameworks.
Nigeria emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation in tackling transnational crime, proposing intelligence-sharing mechanisms and joint training efforts.
Regional and global issues also formed part of the discussions, with Nigeria providing perspectives on developments in the Sahel, the situation in Myanmar, and stability along the Thailand–Cambodia border.
Ambassador Tuggar urged the swift conclusion of several pending bilateral agreements in areas including trade, investment, agriculture, education, and cultural exchange.
He reiterated Nigeria’s interest in establishing a Joint or Bi-National Commission to provide an institutional mechanism for sustained engagement.
Both sides also underscored the importance of enhanced consular cooperation, including better protection for Nigerian nationals, streamlined visa procedures, and reciprocal facilitation for Thai citizens.
Ambassador Tuggar further proposed closer collaboration between the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and relevant Nigerian institutions, with potential pilot programmes in rural development, entrepreneurship, and SME empowerment.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with Thailand and extended an invitation for reciprocal visits.