Nigeria and Thailand are seeking to deepen bilateral cooperation in technology, agriculture, commerce and renewable energy, with both countries identifying opportunities for stronger economic and technical collaboration.
The renewed push for cooperation followed a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a Thai delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Nigerian government said the meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to review their existing relationship and expand bilateral cooperation beyond traditional trade.
Shettima highlighted agriculture, information and communications technology (ICT), renewable energy and solid minerals as priority areas where Nigeria could work more closely with Thailand.
The Vice President also pointed to Nigeria’s large consumer market, youthful population and workforce as advantages that could make the country an attractive destination for Thai businesses and investors.
He encouraged Thailand to deepen its engagement with Nigeria as a strategic economic partner in Africa, according to the Nigerian government.
Technology cooperation takes centre stage
Technology and ICT are emerging as important components of the proposed cooperation, as both countries seek practical avenues for knowledge exchange, technical capacity building and economic development.
For Nigeria, deeper technical engagement with Thailand could support skills development, technology transfer and the adoption of solutions in sectors where Thailand has built experience.
The cooperation could involve government institutions, private-sector companies, research organisations and technical agencies, potentially creating channels for joint projects, knowledge exchange and capacity development.
The discussions also build on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Cooperation signed by Nigeria and Thailand on August 25.
The agreement is designed to strengthen collaboration in areas including skills development, technology transfer and sustainable development, providing a framework for broader technical engagement between the two countries.
Thailand proposes Africa initiative
Thailand also proposed a Thailand-Africa Initiative aimed at strengthening economic and people-to-people relations between Thailand and African countries.
The initiative is expected to place particular emphasis on economic cooperation and sectors where Thailand has relevant expertise.
Nigeria’s position within Africa gives it particular importance in Thailand’s strategy. Thailand has identified Nigeria as a strategic partner and a potential gateway for stronger economic relations with the continent.
For Nigeria, the relationship offers an opportunity to draw on Thailand’s experience in areas including agriculture, technology and tourism while creating new opportunities for investment and commercial partnerships.
Agriculture and renewable energy opportunities
Agriculture was among the sectors highlighted by Shettima as an area with significant potential for bilateral cooperation.
Thailand has extensive experience across agricultural production, processing and related value chains, while Nigeria is seeking to strengthen agricultural productivity, processing capacity and food security.
Renewable energy was also identified as a potential area of collaboration as Nigeria continues to seek solutions to its energy challenges and expand access to reliable electricity.
Cooperation in renewable energy could potentially extend to technology transfer, technical skills, investment and the deployment of energy solutions for businesses and communities.
Solid minerals and commerce were also identified as areas where stronger bilateral engagement could generate economic opportunities.
The broader cooperation comes as Nigeria continues to seek foreign investment and technical partnerships that can support economic diversification and reduce dependence on traditional sources of revenue.
Nigeria’s market offers investment opportunities
Shettima’s pitch to Thai businesses centred partly on Nigeria’s scale and demographic profile.
With a large domestic market and a predominantly young population, Nigeria offers Thai companies opportunities to expand their presence in Africa while using the country as a base for wider regional engagement.
The Nigerian government has increasingly positioned technology, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture and renewable energy as sectors capable of attracting investment while supporting economic transformation.
Stronger Nigeria-Thailand relations could therefore extend beyond government-to-government engagement to include private-sector investment, research partnerships and commercial technology deployment.
For Thailand, deeper engagement with Nigeria could provide access to one of Africa’s largest markets and strengthen its economic relationship with the continent.
For Nigeria, the partnership could provide access to Thai expertise, technologies and investment while opening additional channels for skills development and technical cooperation.
The two countries’ renewed focus therefore places technology within a broader economic partnership that could connect investment, technical expertise, skills development and sustainable development.
If translated into concrete programmes and private-sector projects, the cooperation could create opportunities for Nigerian and Thai businesses, researchers and technical institutions to develop solutions tailored to shared economic and development priorities.
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Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot, has apologised to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his conduct during the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Lagos.
Elliot was seen in a video circulating on social media kneeling before Gbajabiamila and asking for forgiveness, while also appealing to be accepted back into the APC fold in Lagos.
“I’m sorry, I have no excuse. I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry, and I am hoping to be cultured in the future,” Elliot said.
His apology followed a disagreement with the party leadership over the APC primary conducted in May to select its candidate for the Surulere Constituency I seat.
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Elliot had withdrawn from the primary, alleging that his supporters were subjected to intimidation and political pressure during the exercise.
He later rejected the outcome of the election and vowed to challenge the process through the party’s appeal mechanism.
The former actor ultimately lost the APC ticket to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who was widely believed to have the backing of Gbajabiamila.
Odunuga-Bakare secured 11,385 votes in the primary, defeating Elliot, who polled 270 votes.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has revealed how he reduced the cost of governance while serving as governor of Anambra State.
According to the politician, he deliberately avoided unnecessary spending and travelled without the large entourage usually associated with public officials.
Obi disclosed this on Monday while speaking in Washington, D.C., United States, where he discussed measures he adopted to reduce government expenditure during his tenure as governor.
The former Anambra State governor said he rejected inflated budgets for the renovation of his official facilities, explaining that projects were completed for significantly less than the amounts originally provided for in the budget.
“When I was governor, the budget for refurbishing my office was ₦298 million, but I did everything with ₦48 million. There was also a budget of ₦486 million to refurbish my house, but I completed everything with ₦81 million,” Obi said.
He also spoke about the cost associated with official travels, saying he refused to travel with the number of people that could ordinarily accompany a governor on official trips.
“As a governor, you are supposed to travel with 30 people to several places. Over the years I was governor, I didn’t use 16 percent of my travel allowance because I wasn’t travelling with anybody. I was the only person invited; nobody invited them,” he said.
The NDC candidate has repeatedly argued that Nigeria’s limited resources should be directed towards productive sectors capable of improving the living conditions of citizens.
The former governor recently travelled to Germany and the United Kingdom for a series of engagements focused on issues including democracy, electoral integrity, poverty, education, corruption and healthcare.
Obi disclosed the European trip in a statement on his social media platforms after returning to Abuja from visits to Benue and Plateau states.
“After returning to Abuja on 8th September 2026, following our visits to Benue and Plateau States, I travelled to Europe, first to Germany and then to the United Kingdom,” he stated.
According to Obi, his discussions with international partners centred on practical steps that could contribute to Nigeria’s development, with particular attention to education.
He said he was encouraged by the willingness of international partners to support Nigeria, especially in the education sector.
Obi described education as the most important investment Nigeria could make in its citizens, stressing that sustainable national development would remain difficult without building the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the country’s people.
He also renewed his call for a change in the direction of Nigeria’s economy, urging the country to move away from excessive consumption and dependence.
“We must intentionally transition Nigeria from consumption to production, from dependence to productivity, from wasteful practices to responsible resource management, and from division to a common national purpose,” he said.
The NDC presidential candidate said his broader objective was to build a country where children would have access to quality education, democracy would reflect the wishes of voters, healthcare would be accessible and public resources would be managed responsibly.
He added that every Nigerian should have a fair opportunity to live a dignified and productive life.
Obi’s latest engagements come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major presidential contenders increasingly stepping up consultations and engagements within and outside Nigeria.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has also travelled to the United States and Canada as part of a North American tour connected to his 2027 campaign.
The AAC said Sowore’s absence from Nigeria would not affect the #Sowore2027 campaign, maintaining that its activities would continue to focus on what it described as revolutionary transformation, equal rights and justice.
President Bola Tinubu has also travelled to Europe, with the Presidency saying the President departed Abuja for a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu’s first destination was London, United Kingdom, and that he would return to Nigeria at the end of the working vacation.
The political movements are taking place against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the official campaign period on August 19, while the elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.
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