By Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to human rights, peaceful coexistence, and international cooperation during a high-level meeting with a delegation from the First Step Forum (FSF) in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, at the meeting held on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters. The FSF delegation, led by its Executive Director, Marc Jost, visited Nigeria to engage key stakeholders on issues of religious freedom, human rights, and peacebuilding.
The visit, facilitated by the Christian Legislators Fellowship, also focused on strengthening dialogue and fostering strategic partnerships. During the discussions, the delegation emphasized the need to deepen Nigeria-Europe cooperation, particularly in the areas of security, economic development, and human rights. They also expressed interest in Nigeria’s governance structure, foreign policy direction, and investment opportunities.
In response, Ambassador Ahmed reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as a multicultural and multi-religious nation governed by the rule of law. He acknowledged existing security and development challenges but stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and fundamental human rights.
He highlighted Nigeria’s foreign policy framework built on the “4Ds: Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora and noted that the country’s leadership role in regional and continental organisations such as ECOWAS and the African Union. On economic diplomacy, Ahmed reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), strengthening bilateral trade, and leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also proposed the establishment of a formal cooperation framework between the First Step Forum and Nigeria’s National Assembly, including a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support legislative collaboration, capacity-building, and institutional development. Both parties expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations. Marc Jost commended the engagement and reaffirmed FSF’s readiness to expand collaboration with Nigeria, including future visits across the country.
