ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria and Tunisia are set to revive their Joint Commission and fast-track new bilateral agreements as both countries seek to expand cooperation in trade, technology, defence and education.
The move was discussed during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Tunisia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, in Abuja. The development was contained in a statement issued by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
At the centre of the talks was the proposed reactivation of the Nigeria–Tunisia Joint Commission, seen by both sides as a key mechanism for unlocking investment opportunities and strengthening economic collaboration.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria remains committed to building a results-driven partnership with Tunisia, with emphasis on trade expansion, business linkages and people-to-people engagement.
“We must prioritise practical cooperation that connects our private sectors and delivers tangible economic benefits,” she said.
Ambassador Antit, who conveyed greetings from the Tunisian government, proposed enhanced air connectivity through new routes linking Tunis, Cotonou and Abuja to facilitate trade and mobility.
He also highlighted opportunities in education and technology, noting that Tunisia offers six fully funded scholarships annually to Nigerian students, though uptake has remained low. In addition, he proposed the establishment of drone manufacturing facilities in Bauchi State as part of efforts to deepen industrial and technological cooperation.
The minister assured that the Federal Government would engage relevant stakeholders to improve awareness and participation in the scholarship programme.
On security, discussions focused on tackling the proliferation of small arms and cross-border threats. Antit shared Tunisia’s experience with a multi-layered border control system designed to curb illicit arms trafficking, particularly from Libya.
Both countries also reviewed progress on pending agreements, including visa-free arrangements for diplomatic passport holders, double taxation avoidance, defence cooperation, livestock development and legal collaboration.
They reaffirmed their commitment to sustained high-level engagement and closer diplomatic coordination to advance shared economic and security interests.
