Nigeria, Saudi Arabia boost bilateral relations for trade, agriculture, economic growth
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have pledged to improve bilateral relations, particularly in agriculture, trade and economic opportunities.
This commitment was reaffirmed during a meeting between a delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by its Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Alfadley, and Nigerian officials on Thursday in Abuja.
The Nigerian delegation was led by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, was also present.
Kyari said that Nigeria had abundant agricultural potential and investment opportunities.
He said efforts were being made to boost food production for both domestic consumption and export to strengthen the economy.
He said the meeting aimed to strategically harness the opportunities, following discussions between President Bola Tinubu and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Utsev, who highlighted the importance of water for irrigated agriculture, said that Nigeria was happy with the partnership and willing to provide all that was needed to enhance food production.
Utsev expressed optimism that the partnership would also benefit Nigeria in the area of sanitation and hygiene sector.
On his part, Abdulrazaq affirmed the readiness of Nigerian governors to allocate lands for agricultural purposes, emphasising the potential for domestic consumption and export.
In his remarks, Bagudu , said the partnership would benefit the two countries especially in the areas of economic development and job creation.
Alfadley echoed the commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, focusing on areas of comparative advantage such as agriculture, investment, and job creation.
Business community representatives also participated in the meeting, contributing to the dialogue on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
