Nigeria Is Committed To Enhancing South-South Economic Cooperation, Says Bagudu

Nigeria Is Committed To Enhancing South-South Economic Cooperation, Says Bagudu

Nigeria is committed to a deeper South-south economic cooperation, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, told his Tunisian counterpart, Mr Samir Abdelhafidh, in Abuja on Friday.

Receiving senior Tunisian officials, including Mrs Achwek Snoussi and Mr Gara Nader, in his office, Bagudu stated that South-south collaboration, particularly among countries with shared aspirations, would facilitate their development and reduce their dependence on the North.

He stated that the visit highlighted a renewed drive by Nigeria and Tunisia to enhance collaboration in common areas of interest, including national planning, trade expansion, investment mobilisation, and development strategy.

Bagudu said President Bola Tinubu has directed the upscaling of bilateral cooperation and deepening of partnerships with countries that share Nigeria’s aspirations, pointing out that Tunisia is one of its strategic partners.

“This meeting is a convergence of two ministries united by similar mandates and shared development ambitions,” he stated, emphasising, “This is more than a diplomatic courtesy; it is an opportunity to shape a new phase of collaboration between our nations.”

Bagudu highlighted the primacy of national planning and deepening international economic engagements in President Tinubu’s administration development agenda, and explained his ministry’s central role as the facilitator of cooperation among the nation’s federating units.

He noted the strong alignment between Nigeria’s planning system and Tunisia’s bottom-up, regionally coordinated approach, revealing that Nigerian officials are studying Tunisia’s planning frameworks to identify opportunities for knowledge exchange—particularly in digital transformation, pharmaceutical development, industrial innovation, and investment facilitation.

He stated, “Your emphasis on digital growth in Tunisia’s 2026–2030 plan resonates strongly with Nigeria’s goal of building a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030. There is much we can learn from your progress, and much we can achieve together.”

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to advance cooperation immediately, stating that he would brief President Tinubu and expedite preparations for a reciprocal visit to Tunisia.

In his remarks, Tunisia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Abdelhafidh, expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception and conveyed Tunisia’s strong interest in building a durable and mutually beneficial partnership with Nigeria.

He said Tunisia views Nigeria as a regional powerhouse and a strategic ally in shaping the future of the African and Arab economic space.

According to him, “We are here because we believe Nigeria and Tunisia can accomplish far more together than separately. Our ministries share similar responsibilities—planning, investment, and international cooperation—and this creates a natural basis for collaboration.”

The Tunisian minister elaborated on Tunisia’s bottom-up development planning approach for 2026–2030, explaining that the plan aggregates priorities from elected local councils, regional assemblies, district authorities, and sectoral ministries.

This method, he noted, ensures that national planning reflects real needs on the ground.

He explained, “Our approach is anchored on inclusiveness. Local and regional bodies are articulating their priorities, and we are integrating them with national and sectoral strategies. It is a model we believe aligns closely with Nigeria’s federated planning system.”

Abdelhafidh also highlighted Tunisia’s capabilities in several areas where collaboration could be immediately beneficial: Digital economy and e-governance systems, Industrial modernisation and manufacturing, Pharmaceutical and health technology development, Investment facilitation and private-sector coordination, Technical cooperation and capacity building across ministries.

He expressed Tunisia’s readiness to exchange expertise and learn from Nigeria’s experience, especially in federal coordination, macroeconomic reforms, and large-scale development management.

“This partnership should not be theoretical; it should produce concrete programs that benefit the citizens of both countries,” he stated.

He further emphasised the significance of both countries’ participation in the Arab–African Trade Program, describing the initiative as a timely platform for deepening trade, enhancing logistics linkages, and building cross-regional economic value chains.

“The Arab–African Trade Program has brought us closer to our African partners,” Abdelhafidh said, adding, “Nigeria is central to Africa’s economic future, and strengthening our relationship is both strategic and necessary.”