President Bola Tinubu has reiterated Nigeria’s appeal for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Speaking at the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh on Friday, Tinubu urged an end to the fighting that erupted after the Islamist group Hamas launched attacks in Israel in October, killing over 1,400 people.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza that has left more than 10,500 dead, sparking international calls for a ceasefire.
While Israel agreed to temporary four-hour pauses in northern Gaza, President Joe Biden ruled out a full ceasefire for now.
At the Saudi summit, Tinubu assured potential investors that Nigeria was open for business with some of the world’s highest investment returns.
He also sought enhanced collaboration with Saudi Arabia to combat terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP active in the Lake Chad and Sahel regions.
Analysts say Tinubu’s ceasefire call reiterates Nigeria’s stand for peace amidst the Middle East crisis. But breakthroughs remain elusive as both Israel and Hamas refuse to back down.
“Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed a special relationship at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. Within the past six decades, our bilateral cooperation, which was initially hajj-centric, has witnessed diversification to cover a number of areas of common interest. It is delightful to note the presence in this great Kingdom of a large number of our compatriots and professionals, including highly-skilled medical practitioners and professional football players.
“As members of several international organisations, including the UN, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the International Energy Forum, the G77, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Digital Cooperation Organisation, among others, our two nations have effectively used these and other platforms to enhance close interaction and coordination. I am confident that our joint positive dispositions within these platforms will continue to be demonstrated as we seek to advance our mutual interests.
“Nigeria, like the Kingdom, is diversifying her economy away from oil dependence to promote sustainable development. My administration has undertaken bold economic reforms by removing wasteful subsidies on petroleum and merging our foreign exchange market, among other incentives aimed at improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“I also wish to assure all potential Saudi investors of the safety of their investments based on the sanctity of the rule of law and good returns on their investments in the largest economy in Africa. In this regard, the benefit attached to the early inauguration of the Nigeria-Saudi Business Council cannot be over-emphasized,” the President said in a statement by his spokeswoman, Ajuri Ngelale.
He expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian interventions in Nigeria through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
Speaking at the Saudi-Africa Summit, Tinubu noted that climate change has accelerated desertification and flooding across Africa, including Nigeria.
He praised Saudi efforts to combat climate change effects and energy poverty. Tinubu outlined Nigeria’s own initiatives to tackle the climate crisis and lack of energy access.
“Recently, we launched a data-driven Energy Transition Plan that sets forth a clear carbon reduction policy and targets net-zero emissions by the year 2060 while also setting out our plans for industrialization using new energy systems and universal access to modern energy services.
“Mr. Chairman, let me also take this opportunity to reiterate Nigeria’s full support for the Kingdom’s bids to host the 2030 World Expo in Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA Senior Men’s World Cup, the latter of which is now all but guaranteed to succeed,” the president said.
