By Jake Godfrey, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with his counterpart the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, José Manuel Albares.
The MoU signing happened in Madrid during Tuggar’s visit to Spain, when both Ministers held a working meeting aimed at bolstering bilateral relations between Nigeria and Spain within the framework of the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028.
According to a joint statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, media aide to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister made available to AljazirahNigeria, the MoU focused on political consultations, “establishing a mechanism for regular dialogue to advance areas of mutual interest and consolidate cooperation between Spain and Nigeria.”
“Nigeria is a strategic partner for Spain in West Africa, a region of special priority within the Spain-Africa Strategy. Likewise, Spain is a strategic partner for Nigeria and a key ally within the European Union, playing an active role in promoting stronger relations between the EU and the African continent. In this context, both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in various fields, including economic development, security, education, energy, and the fight against climate change,” the statement said.
As part of the topics of discourse, they explored the regional situation, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa, noting the importance of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a key driver in regional stability and development.
On other challenges facing the African continent, both Ministers exchanged their views.
“On international affairs, the Ministers shared their concerns regarding the situations in Gaza and Ukraine, reaffirming their commitment to peace, stability, and respect for international law.”
They both reiterated their commitment to a more robust cooperation for mutual benefit and to strengthen Africa-Europe relations, agreeing that the visit represented a significant step in deepening relations between Spain and Nigeria.
