Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has emphasized his commitment to enhancing food security in the nation’s capital, Abuja…CONTINUE READING
He stated that his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria earlier this month was aimed at establishing a partnership for the benefit of local farmers.
Wike firmly refuted claims that he expressed support for Israel over Palestine in the ongoing conflict in the region. The Israeli Ambassador, Michael Freeman, visited the FCT minister on October 3, which was before the escalation of the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Despite the timing of the visit and the subsequent conflict, some individuals accused Wike of extending Nigeria’s support to Israel.
However, Wike clarified during a meeting with the leadership of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board that he lacks the constitutional authority to determine Nigeria’s diplomatic relationships with other nations. Such authority rests solely with the President and Commander-in-Chief.
Wike stated, “I cannot determine a relationship between a country and another country. So, it is difficult for anybody to say I am doing this, I am doing that.
Any foreign entity that wishes to engage with Nigeria should go through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will then inform me of their intentions, and we can explore potential partnerships, for example, in agriculture, by specifying the areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.”
He emphasized that his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador was solely focused on agricultural collaboration for the welfare of FCT farmers.
