May 16, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting Mali’s democratic transition and strengthening economic ties between both nations, stressing that West African countries are stronger when united.
Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of the Republic of Mali, Cheick Oumar Coulibaly.
“We should strengthen our bilateral relations, and we hope Mali achieves its democratic goals. Nigeria is open to providing any support necessary. I want you to see yourself as part of the family here. For me, we are one in West Africa and in Africa. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has made its stance known, but no nation can succeed alone. We see Mali as a brother and are ready to collaborate and exchange ideas. Nigeria is your home, and our doors are always open,” Tinubu said.
In his response, Ambassador Coulibaly conveyed warm greetings from Malian leader, General Assimi Goïta, and expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued leadership in the region.
“I bring fraternal greetings from our Head of State and the heartfelt appreciation of the Malian people for Nigeria’s support and leadership. The President told me I was on a mission to Africa’s biggest country and urged me to find diplomatic solutions. We believe Africans must solve African problems. We appreciate your leadership as a father figure on the continent,” he said.
President Tinubu also received Letters of Credence from five other envoys, calling for deeper cooperation to promote global peace, mutual understanding, and shared prosperity.
Those who presented their credentials included Ambassador Bengt Van Loosdrecht of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; High Commissioner Selestine Gervas Kakele of the United Republic of Tanzania; non-resident Ambassador Dr. Sabit Subasic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ambassador Andrey Leonidovich Podelyshev of the Russian Federation; and Ambassador Patrick Egloff of Switzerland.
While receiving the Tanzanian envoy, Tinubu commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her bold leadership and contributions to the African Union.
“We must continue to work together. You can see the situation around the world—no one can do it alone. We’ll continue to collaborate in areas of knowledge and technical expertise,” he said.
In his remarks, the Tanzanian High Commissioner acknowledged the impact of Nigerian investments in his country, citing companies such as Dangote Group, UBA, GTB, and Sahara Energy.
“We should deepen collaboration not only at the government level but also people-to-people, as seen in the film industry and sports. Nigeria’s film industry is vibrant and is already collaborating with Tanzania,” he said.
During his meeting with the Russian Ambassador, Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s historic technical partnership with Russia and expressed interest in expanding collaboration in steel production, science, education, and nuclear energy to boost electricity supply.
“Our partnership has been fruitful, but we need greater technological support as our population grows. The Ajaokuta Steel Complex, built by Russian firms, will only fulfil its promise when fully operational,” he stated.
Ambassador Podelyshev reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to deepen ties, especially in education and energy, noting existing agreements on nuclear power development.
Addressing the Swiss Ambassador, Tinubu pledged to foster a more investor-friendly environment through regulatory reforms, particularly in resolving legal issues that could hinder economic partnerships.
“We’re committed to removing legal obstacles that may affect our economic relations,” he assured.
Ambassador Egloff praised Swiss investment in Nigeria, pointing to expansions by Nestlé and Lafarge in Lagos, Kano, and Gombe States, and highlighted ongoing collaboration in security and intelligence.
Tinubu also thanked the Bosnian envoy for the progress made in bilateral relations. The ambassador extended an invitation to the Nigerian president to visit Bosnia to witness firsthand the country’s development
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