Nigeria Strengthens Bilateral Cooperation With Palestine, China

The Nigerian government has moved to strengthen bilateral relations and consular cooperation with Palestine, as well as the People’s Republic of China, for mutual benefits.

This was the crux of a meeting between the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, Muhannad Halmouri, who paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, noted that the meeting was part of the ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the State of Palestine, while also providing an opportunity to review consular, humanitarian, and regional issues of mutual concern.

During the meeting, the Palestinian Ambassador conveyed warm greetings from the Palestinian leadership and expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s longstanding and principled support for the Palestinian cause. He recalled the historic nature of Nigeria-Palestine relations, dating back to the era of President Yasser Arafat, and commended Nigeria’s consistent moral and diplomatic stance at international fora.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the wider Palestinian territories also featured prominently in the discussions. The Ambassador briefed the Honourable Minister on the prevailing conditions, including ongoing security challenges and constraints on humanitarian access, while acknowledging Nigeria’s constructive position and support for efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully, grounded in international law and ethical considerations.

Looking ahead, the Ambassador conveyed the Palestinian Government’s interest in a prospective visit by the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Nigeria. He indicated that such a visit could include high-level engagements and possible interaction with Nigeria’s National Assembly, in line with established diplomatic protocols.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his remarks, reaffirmed Nigeria’s enduring support for the Palestinian people and reiterated the country’s commitment to justice, peaceful coexistence, and respect for international law. He assured the Palestinian Ambassador that the issues raised would be examined through appropriate diplomatic and administrative channels, in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy principles.

In a similar development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the People’s Republic of China following a courtesy visit by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Zhou Hongyou, to the Spokesperson of the Ministry, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, in his office on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026.

During the engagement, both sides underscored the depth of Nigeria-China relations, noting the extensive cooperation between the two countries in trade, infrastructure development, and strategic partnership. Nigeria was described as one of China’s most significant partners in Africa, with visible Chinese-supported projects across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The discussions also focused on the importance of reciprocal visits, study tours and exposure programmes for diplomats to enhance mutual understanding, including short-term and specialised training programmes in governance, administration, strategic communication and public diplomacy. Reference was made to training initiatives coordinated by Chinese academic institutions, particularly Peking University, aimed at promoting experience-sharing among developing countries.

The Chinese side further highlighted plans to commemorate the Chinese New Year and the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both parties agreed on the importance of coordinated messaging and media engagement on 10th February 2026 to mark the occasion and reinforce public understanding of Nigeria–China relations.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Nigeria and China to deepen diplomatic engagement, enhance institutional cooperation, and expand people-to-people exchanges for mutual benefit.