Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

A delegation from the Japanese Parliament has visited Nigeria to assess the level of cooperation between the two countries, most importantly, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, according to spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tope Ade Elias-Fatile  received the delegation in Abuja on behalf of the Federal Government.

The purpose of the visit by the Japanese delegation which also met with the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, was to know the extent in which Japan has achieved successes in the West African Coast with regards to ODA.

The delegation included Kiyoshi Ejima, Member of Parliament, House of Councilors Liberal Democratic Party (LDP); Shigeru Doko, Member of Parliament, House of Councilors (LDP); Renho Murata, Member of Parliament, House of Councilors, Democratic Party; Takatoshi Nishimura, Researcher of the Standing Committee, House of Councilors; and Yasushi Sato, Researcher of the Standing Committee, House of Councilors.

They were accompanied by Sadanobu Kusaoke, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria; Makoto Hirose, Head of Political Section, Embassy of Japan; Mitsuhiro Inamura, Head of Development Cooperation Section, Embassy of Japan; Yasuhiro Hashimoto, Head of Economic Section, Embassy of Japan; and Hiroki Ogawa, an interpreter.

“From the meeting, what was clear was that they were really satisfied that Nigeria was benefitting sincerely from it.

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“The minister mentioned the issue of infrastructure development, power and manufacturing and they also talked about the need for whatever Japan can do to support Nigeria on job creation and to forge greater partnership with each other,” Elias-Fatile said.

On the economic front, Elias-Fatile said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Oneyama, has initiated Economic Diplomacy Initiative for Nigeria.

Following the development, Elias-Fatile said officers of the ministry were currently undergoing training to see how the ministry can key into the initiative.

The trainers from Netherlands, he added, were facilitated by the Embassy of Netherlands in Nigeria, which is in line with the concept of e-diplomacy.

Similarly, the Federal Republic of Germany and Nigeria, have signed three bilateral agreements which are Government Agreement on Technical Cooperation in 2016, Government Agreement on Financial Cooperation in 2016, Financing and Project Agreement on Polio Eradication.

Notable issues in the agreements were the German Government’s commitment of the sum of €120 million to ensure the total eradication of polio in the country, and the new agreement on polio involvement of financial commitment of €10 million which would be increased to €29.9 million by the German government in line with the agreement.