Nigeria and Columbia are working towards partnership in aviation, trade and cultural exchanges.
These are the highlights of the bilateral meeting between Colombia Vice President Francia Márquez and Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja yesterday.
The South American who is on a three-day visit to Nigeria, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in company of Shettima after their meeting.
The President assured the Colombia leader that he would implement the agreements that were reached at her meeting with the Vice President.
Mrs Márquez described Nigeria as ‘the land of our ancestors’, expressing delight at leading Colombia’s delegation on the landmark visit.
She identified aviation, visa facilitation, political consultations, cultural exchange, and trade as priority areas for partnership.
She also highlighted Colombia’s interest in direct flights between both nations and expressed commitment to working with Nigeria to advance social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity.
Márquez praised Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and noted that the African Union’s growing influence on the global stage would bolster cooperation between Latin America and the continent.
The bilateral meeting was attended by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
President Tinubu told the Colombia delegation that global economic realities require nations to look beyond traditional alliances and forge new bonds of cooperation for mutual prosperity.
The President said: ‘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.
‘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’.
Nigeria and Brazil opened up air links and trade opportunities during President Tinubu’s visit last week.
The President urged Colombian business leaders to seize the vast investment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as well as in agriculture.
According to him, Nigeria’s young and expanding population provides not only a huge market but also a capable workforce that can drive industrialisation and economic growth.
Shettima, who co-chaired the Nigeria–Colombia Bilateral Meeting and Business Forum, said the visit by his Colombian counterpart would help rekindle historical ties between Africa and Latin America disrupted by centuries of slavery and colonialism.
