Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to elevating its relations with Thailand into a full strategic partnership spanning political, economic and cultural cooperation.
Tuggar made the declaration in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, following bilateral meetings with Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, held on the sidelines of the relaunch of the Thailand–Africa Initiative in Bangkok.
During the engagement, Tuggar congratulated his counterpart on his recent appointment and extended condolences on national losses in Thailand, including the passing of the Queen Mother and casualties from natural disasters. He noted the long-standing cordial ties between both nations and Nigeria’s readiness to deepen the partnership across multiple sectors.
Both ministers acknowledged the history of high-level exchanges and agreed to sustain momentum through reciprocal visits. Tuggar said Nigeria welcomes Thailand’s renewed outreach to Africa and proposed bilateral projects aligned with Nigeria’s national development priorities. He also encouraged Bangkok to support long-term ASEAN–ECOWAS cooperation, potentially culminating in a future ASEAN–ECOWAS Summit.
The minister outlined key areas for diversification, including agro-processing, energy, defence manufacturing, and technology transfer. He highlighted Nigeria’s export strengths in crude oil and Thailand’s in rice and machinery, noting that both countries could benefit from expanded trade and investment. Additional opportunities were identified in ICT, manufacturing and renewable energy, with Nigeria offering incentives and market access to investors.
Tuggar praised Thailand’s scholarship programmes and technical training support for Nigerians, urging an expansion to accommodate more students and professionals. He also commended the ongoing Sustainable Agricultural Technology Development Project and proposed scaling up joint research in climate-resilient and sustainable farming.
He further explained that the growing Nigeria–Thailand relationship is supported through their cooperation within the BRICS framework, adding that discussions on mutual support in the bloc’s initiatives are in progress.
Security cooperation also featured prominently, with Nigeria calling for stronger collaboration against drug trafficking, human trafficking and other cross-border crimes. Proposals included intelligence-sharing and joint training exercises. Tuggar also shared Nigeria’s views on regional developments in the Sahel, Myanmar and stability along the Thailand–Cambodia border.
He urged the speedy conclusion of pending bilateral agreements covering trade, investment, agriculture, education and cultural exchange, suggesting the establishment of a Joint or Bi-National Commission to strengthen oversight. He also highlighted the need for improved consular collaboration, including better protection for Nigerian citizens, more efficient visa procedures and reciprocal facilitation for Thai nationals.
Nigeria additionally proposed enhanced cooperation between Thailand’s International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Nigerian institutions, particularly in rural development and small and medium enterprise support.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the partnership, Tuggar extended an invitation for future high-level visits, describing Thailand as a key strategic partner in Asia. The meeting comes amid Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen global alliances, including a recently announced five-year defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.
