Nigeria, Tunisia Set to Strengthen Bilateral Ties at FITA 2025…Joint Commission to Hold in September as Both Nations Eye Strategic Partnerships.

By Caroline Ameh

Nigeria and Tunisia are set to deepen their bilateral relationship through strengthened cooperation in energy, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, education, and the creative industries, officials announced at the 8th Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA) Conference 2025.

The Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering strategic alliances with the Republic of Tunisia. She highlighted the new economic opportunities made possible by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking through her representative, the Director of Foreign Service Reform and Innovation on Tuesday, Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the long-awaited Nigeria-Tunisia Joint Commission will now be convened between September and October 2025. The commission, initially scheduled to hold in 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nigeria is open for business and we are already doing business,” Akinremi said during a session themed “Investing in Nigeria”. “We have created an environment that incubates businesses and offers compelling opportunities for investors.”

He noted that economic reforms under President Tinubu have eased capital repatriation and improved the investment climate across sectors.

The Minister also stressed the urgency of reviving the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and finalising a Military Cooperation Agreement with Tunisia. She called for the acceleration of a visa-free agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, as well as the establishment of a Nigeria-Tunisia Business Council.

She further urged both countries to explore trade and technical collaborations in areas such as climate research, smart agriculture, ICT (including fintech), innovation hubs, and digital literacy.

The Nigerian delegation advocated joint ventures in pharmaceutical manufacturing, renewable energy, and investment protection frameworks, all aimed at boosting intra-African trade and fast-tracking implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Akinremi also floated the idea of a Nigeria-Tunisia joint tourism initiative, and shared the Ministry’s plans for a global business match platform that connects Nigerian companies with international partners.

“In Nigeria, there is no business that comes and fails,” he asserted, touting the country’s business resilience and investor confidence.

Other Nigerian dignitaries present at the FITA 2025 conference included Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Emir of Kano, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; and Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). They each echoed Nigeria’s readiness and appeal as a destination for global investment.