Tinubu drops strong hint on aviation, trade deals with Colombia

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Colombia, promising that all agreements reached between the two nations will be swiftly implemented.

Receiving Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, Tinubu stressed that global economic shifts demand stronger partnerships among developing nations to ensure shared prosperity.

He noted that Nigeria would replicate with Colombia the recent agreements signed with Brazil on aviation and consular issues, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would fast-track their execution.

“I believe the Vice President and his team have done the job. Our business opportunities with Colombia have already been enhanced. Particularly, the agreement we entered with Brazil can easily be replicated in aviation, while our diplomatic relations can be strengthened further. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accelerate that,” Tinubu said.

The President also urged Colombian business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as well as agriculture, pointing to the nation’s youthful population as a strong market and labour force.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who supervised the bilateral meetings, described Márquez’s visit as a rekindling of ancestral ties disrupted by slavery and colonialism.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria and Colombia would leverage their cultural and political similarities for mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

In her remarks, Márquez, Colombia’s first Black Vice President, expressed delight at visiting “the land of our ancestors,” pledging to build a lasting partnership with Nigeria rooted in cultural heritage and shared values.

She highlighted aviation, visas, political consultations, cultural exchanges, and trade as priority areas of collaboration, disclosing that discussions had already commenced on establishing direct flights between the two countries.

Márquez also stressed the importance of joint efforts on social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity, while commending Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and within the African Union as a springboard for stronger ties with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Present at the meeting were Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Coordinating Minister of Finance and Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.