Japan-Nigeria Relations

On August 29, for about 15 minutes, from 3:15 p.m., Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Yokohama, Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows. President Buhari is visiting Japan to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.

1. At the outset, Prime Minster Abe stated, “I welcome your consecutive participation since TICADVI,” and expressed that Japan has high expectations in Nigeria playing a role at TICAD as major country in the African economy. President Buhari stated, “I express my sincere appreciation for the invitation and warm welcome to the TICAD7. I would like to further strengthen cooperative relations with Japan.”
2. Following that, Prime Minster Abe offered his congratulations on the early launch of President Buhari’s second term, and expressed that stable growth of Nigeria is indispensable to peace and prosperity in the region, and that Japan supports President Buhari’s efforts for taking Nigeria to “the next level.” In addition, Prime Minster Abe stated the establishment of a “Japan-Nigeria Business Facilitation Council” to further strengthen the two countries’ trade and investment relations and supporting Japanese companies entering into Nigeria. Furthermore, Prime Minster Abe expressed his intention to support the Center for Strategic Research and Studies of the National War College for the improvement of security situation and to provide support for the improvement of countermeasures for infectious diseases. In response, President Buhari expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support for peace and stability and for combating piracy as well as illegal fishery. He also expressed his expectations for further cooperation with Japan.
3. The two leaders also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform, and the North Korea situation