By Ebi Kesiena
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, held a phone conversation on Sunday focused on enhancing bilateral relations and advancing regional cooperation, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
During the discussion, Abdelatty reaffirmed the strong historical relationship between both nations and highlighted the growing momentum in political, economic, and development cooperation. He emphasized the importance of building on the outcomes of his July 2025 visit to Nigeria, particularly the Egypt–Nigeria Business Forum, which created new opportunities for trade and investment.
The Egyptian foreign minister called for deeper collaboration in key sectors such as trade, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, mining, construction, and pharmaceuticals. He also underscored the significance of expanding capacity-building and knowledge exchange, especially through initiatives led by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD) and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA).
On regional and continental matters, both ministers exchanged views on recent developments across Africa, stressing the need for stronger joint African action in addressing political instability, humanitarian challenges, and cross-border threats.
They agreed to maintain close coordination within the African Union (AU) to promote peace, security, stability, and sustainable development, and reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing consultation in regional and international fora.
Egypt and Nigeria, two of Africa’s most influential nations established diplomatic relations in 1961 and have since worked together within the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8). Their cooperation spans peacekeeping, counterterrorism, infrastructure, and food security, alongside growing educational and cultural exchanges, with many Nigerian students enrolled in Egyptian universities and Al-Azhar institutions.
Despite strong political ties, trade between the two countries remains modest, totalling about $211 million in 2023, according to official figures. Egyptian exports accounted for $199 million, while imports from Nigeria stood at $12 million. Both sides have expressed renewed determination to expand economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
