Lithuanian, Nigerian foreign ministers discuss security, Europe-Africa relations

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Maitama Tuggar on Thursday discussed the security situation in the face of evolving military conflicts, emphasizing the need to step up European cooperation with the African continent.

Landsbergis and Tuggar, who met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, also discussed the role of international organizations in ensuring respect for democracy.

"The increasingly fractured world is heightening security threats on all continents, and we can overcome them only by acting together," Lithuania's top diplomat said.  

The ministers also discussed possible new areas of growing bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Nigeria.

Lithuania's exports to Nigeria amounted to 350 million euros in 2022, accounting for a third of the country's total exports to Africa. Cereals are Lithuania's main export commodity, with an annual export value of over 200 million euros.

According to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, there is interest in business relations with Nigeria not only from agricultural producers but also from the information and communication technology sector.

The ministry notes that Lithuania's NRD Cyber Security has implemented two projects at the Central Bank of Nigeria, one aimed at establishing a financial sector cyber-security center and the other at helping set up a cyber-security threat management system.