President Bola Tinubu on Monday assured the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez, that Nigeria will replicate with Colombia the bilateral agreements recently signed with Brazil on aviation and consular matters.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and aligning foreign relations with evolving global trends in trade, politics, and culture amid economic uncertainties and shifting international policies.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu told the Colombian delegation, which included senior government, business, and diplomatic officials, that Nigeria would expedite the implementation of all bilateral agreements concluded under the supervision of Vice President Kashim Shettima. “I am confident that the Vice President and his team have done the groundwork. Our business opportunities with Colombia have been significantly enhanced, and I support every aspect of the agreements you have reached. Specifically, the aviation agreement we signed with Brazil can be easily replicated with Colombia, and our diplomatic relations strengthened. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will fast-track this process,” he said.
The President invited Colombian business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as well as agriculture, stressing the country’s youthful and expanding population as both a market and a skilled workforce. Vice President Kashim Shettima described Márquez’s visit as an opportunity to rekindle ancestral ties disrupted by slavery and colonialism, positioning Nigeria and Colombia for a prosperous partnership. He highlighted the political and cultural similarities between both nations as a foundation for robust economic collaboration.
Vice President Francia Márquez, Colombia’s first Black Vice President, expressed delight at leading a visit to what she described as the land of her ancestors, calling it the start of a lasting relationship rooted in shared cultural heritage. She outlined plans to strengthen cooperation in aviation, visas, political consultations, cultural exchanges, and trade. “We have already engaged with business leaders in the aviation sector regarding the initiation of direct flights to Colombia,” she said.
Márquez also underscored Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and the African Union’s work on restoration and reparations as significant factors in advancing ties with Latin America and the Caribbean. She further emphasized collaboration on social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity as mutual priorities.
The meeting at the State House in Abuja was attended by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Coordinating Minister of Finance and Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
