KUWAIT: As part of the government’s efforts to re-energize Nigeria’s relations with Kuwait, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maiama Tuggar visited Kuwait and held bilateral discussions with Kuwait Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and other senior officials. Important bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed. The two-day visit (February 5-6, 2025) is aimed at bolstering bilateral ties between Nigeria and Kuwait.

“Kuwait is one of the first Gulf states to reach out to sub-Saharan Africa after we gained independence. This is something we have not forgotten,” the honorable minister said. The arrival of the Nigerian foreign minister was met with enthusiastic anticipation and excitement, as the two nations share a long history of friendly relations and bilateral cooperation.

The visit of the minister signifies a strong commitment to further strengthening the ties. With a cordial tone, the minister engaged in productive discussions with his Kuwaiti counterparts, aiming to foster a deeper understanding and cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment and cultural exchange. The minister’s confidence and professionalism were evident throughout the mission, leaving a positive impression on both the Kuwaiti officials and the Nigerian community residing in Kuwait. Undoubtedly, this visit laid the foundation for a more robust and mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maiama Tuggar sign agreements and MoUs.

MoUs or agreements

Several memoranda of understanding were signed during the visit. They include a (i) Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Joint Commission for Cooperation between Nigeria and Kuwait; (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Kuwait on Conducting Bilateral Consultations; (iii) Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria Foreign Service Academy and Saud N Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute; (iv) Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Kuwait on Development of Science and Technology and (v) Agreement between Nigeria and Kuwait on Technical Cooperation and Development in the Field of Agriculture.

“These MoUs will provide a comprehensive framework for engagement across a wide spectrum. The joint commission will be at the fulcrum of this. Nigeria, like Kuwait, has food security as a priority. Our country was created out of the confluence of two great African rivers, so we have a lot of fertile arable land. We invested in 12 river basin development authorities in the 70s and 80s during the oil booms, building dams, irrigation canals, and storage facilities. But now we have a population of over 220 million. We can partner with Kuwait to produce enough for ourselves and to export to Kuwait and other countries,” the Nigerian minister explained.

Gas reserve

“Actually, it is not going to be one-way traffic; we also have private sector players willing to invest in Kuwait, establishing warehouses and logistics value chains for food supply. Some have already done so in other Gulf countries. We are also both major hydrocarbon producers and members of OPEC and can work jointly towards expanding our market share, especially in gas, that we are using as a transition fuel. Nigeria has over 200 trillion cubic feet of reserves of gas and can work with Kuwait to become a major hub for data mining, AI, and data storage, all of which require a lot of energy. Nigeria is also a leader in fintech. We have six unicorns and counting (each with a turnover of over $1 billion). We are a youthful country with the talent of software engineering creating startups that can work with Kuwait either remotely or at location to create world-class enterprises,” Ambassador Tuggar added.

Kuwait-Nigeria relations

On Kuwait-Nigeria relations, the minister said, “The relationship is very warm, just not utilized to its full potential, which is why I am here. This is just the beginning of more activities to come. Nigeria is going to host the first meeting of the joint commission in Abuja, the capital city. Our senior government officials and private sector decision-makers are ready, willing and able to fly to Kuwait at a moment’s notice. The icing on the cake will be visits by our heads of state.

In his remark, the Nigerian ambassador in Kuwait lauded Kuwait-Nigeria diplomatic ties and called on Kuwaiti and foreign investors to tap into the Nigerian market. “Nigeria is becoming an investor’s haven. The government is committed to strengthening and deepening relations with our traditional friends while building and cultivating new partnerships and alliances. Nigeria has a fast-growing and vibrant economy. The government has provided investment opportunities in many sectors of business, including manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, transportation, etc.,” Nigerian Charge d’Affaires Ambassador Murtala Jimoh told Kuwait Times.