By Ebi Kesiena
Nigeria and Singapore have moved to strengthen bilateral ties as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, participated in the 5th Singapore–Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit (SAMEV), held in Singapore, recently.
The biennial platform, hosted by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, was convened under the theme “Progressing Together towards a Sustainable Future.” SAMEV has, since its inception in 2014, provided a forum to deepen cooperation and exchange development experiences between Singapore and African nations.
In a statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday, noted that this year’s edition brought together 14 Ministers and Deputy Ministers from Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
The delegation jointly paid a courtesy call on Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr. Lawrence Wong, on August 27, where discussions centered on advancing Africa–Singapore cooperation. They were also hosted to lunch by Dr. Balakrishnan on August 26, and the visit concluded with a dinner reception hosted by Ms. Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.
Alongside SAMEV, the African ministers participated in the Opening Session of the 8th Africa–Singapore Business Forum (ASBF), which coincided with the ministerial meetings. The forum was headlined by Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, who delivered a keynote address during his concurrent State Visit to Singapore.
Organised by Enterprise Singapore, the government agency responsible for enterprise development and global market access, ASBF 2025 convened over 700 business and government representatives from more than 40 countries across Africa and Asia. The gathering provided a vital platform for business matchmaking, forging new partnerships, and exploring pathways for sustainable growth.
Nigeria featured prominently in the discussions, with Gbenga Oyebode, MFR, Chairman of ALN, and Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, serving as key speakers. Both underscored Africa’s growing role in global economic integration and Nigeria’s position as a hub for investment on the continent.
One of the most significant outcomes for Nigeria was the entry into force of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), also known as a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), between Nigeria and Singapore on August 22, 2025. The agreement provides a legal framework to encourage and safeguard investments between the two countries, strengthening Nigeria’s appeal as an investment destination while offering protections for Singaporean investors.
The BIT is expected to catalyse economic cooperation, deepen investor confidence, and expand opportunities in key sectors such as infrastructure, technology, and sustainable development. It also aligns with Nigeria’s broader foreign policy drive to attract foreign direct investment and build global economic partnerships under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
For Nigeria, SAMEV and ASBF 2025 emphasizes the importance of multilateral and bilateral engagement in advancing national priorities. Beyond the formal agreements, the platforms created avenues for Nigeria to showcase its economic reforms, highlight investment opportunities, and build networks with policymakers and business leaders from Asia and Africa.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Tuggar’s participation reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to broadening its diplomatic and economic horizons, leveraging global partnerships for sustainable development, and consolidating its leadership role within Africa’s engagement with the wider world.
