Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, Amb. Nkechi Ufochukwu, has said efforts are underway to deepen the trade agreement between Nigeria and Israel as part of a broader plan to boost bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

 

 

Speaking over the weekend in Abuja at a forum, the envoy said strengthening trade ties between both countries remains a top priority of her diplomatic agenda.

 

“My main point and plan are to strengthen the trade agreement between the two countries, to strengthen the bilateral trade agreement between the two countries,” she said.

 

 

Ufochukwu noted that beyond trade, her focus would include promoting Nigeria’s culture, agriculture, and investments, as well as facilitating training in cybersecurity and information technology.

 

She assured stakeholders of her commitment to delivering on her mandate and working collaboratively with partners to achieve results.

 

“I will put in my best in what is required of me to do the work which has been given to me; let us keep communication open and get the work done,” she said

 

Stakeholders at the forum stressed the need for Nigeria to address structural challenges hindering business growth, drawing comparisons with Israel’s innovation-driven economy.

 

A member of the forum, Pastor Henry Opara, emphasized the need for formal bilateral agreements, noting that existing engagements are largely informal and driven by individual relationships.

 

“What we have now is more of person-to-person business relationships, which is not ideal. With proper bilateral agreements, it becomes government-to-government engagement guided by laid-down rules,” he said.

 

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NIBF, Mrs. Florence Osuji, called for renewed official trade agreements between Nigeria and Israel, noting that existing arrangements have lapsed and current trade lacks formal backing.

 

On his part, a member of the forum, Mr. Oseagha Solomon, described Israel as a country that enables growth through clear regulations, a reliable power supply, and strong institutional trust, while noting that Nigeria’s environment, though high in potential, is weighed down by operational challenges.

 

“Nigeria is a high-potential but high-friction environment. Entrepreneurs battle unstable power, policy inconsistencies, foreign exchange volatility, and costly financing,” he said.