Israel Reaffirms Commitment to Peace, Deepens Partnership with Nigeria at 78th Independence Anniversary

By: Michael Mike

Israel has renewed its call for peace across the Middle East while unveiling fresh initiatives aimed at strengthening economic, agricultural and healthcare cooperation with Nigeria.

Speaking at celebrations marking Israel’s 78th Independence Anniversary in Abuja, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said his country remains committed to the vision of peace outlined by Israel’s founding leaders despite decades of conflict and security challenges.

Drawing from a personal family connection to Israel’s founding in 1948, Freeman recalled the words of the country’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, who called for cooperation and peaceful coexistence with neighbouring states at the birth of the Israeli nation.

The ambassador said that vision remains central to Israel’s foreign policy today, arguing that the country has consistently sought peaceful relations despite repeated conflicts in the region.

He pointed to the Abraham Accords as evidence that dialogue and cooperation can transform relationships in the Middle East, creating opportunities for economic growth, innovation and regional stability.

Freeman, however, accused Iran and its regional allies of undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace. He cited recent tensions involving Lebanon and ongoing missile attacks on Israeli communities, saying millions of Israelis had been forced into bomb shelters as hostilities escalated.

According to him, the people of Israel, Lebanon and the wider Middle East deserve a future free from violence and conflict.

“It is time to stop allowing Iran and other extremists and outside actors to hold the future of our region hostage,” he said.

Beyond regional security issues, the ambassador devoted significant attention to growing ties between Israel and Nigeria, describing the relationship as one built on innovation, entrepreneurship and shared development goals.

He announced that Israel would launch a fifth cohort of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (iFAIR) programme in 2027, providing additional opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs to receive mentorship and business development support from Israeli and Nigerian experts.

The programme, he said, has already helped young innovators transform ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and addressing societal challenges.

Freeman also highlighted ongoing agricultural partnerships between both countries, noting that Israeli technology and seedlings are already being deployed by Nigerian farmers to improve productivity and food security.

He urged guests to view the agricultural products displayed at the event as symbols of what stronger collaboration could achieve across Nigeria’s farming sector.

“Imagine that success multiplied across Nigeria—higher yields, stronger rural communities, greater food security, and millions upon millions of lives improved,” he said.

In another major announcement, the ambassador disclosed that the first three fully equipped ambulances donated by Israel were on their way to Nigeria. He described the donation as a practical demonstration of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

According to him, the ambulances will help strengthen emergency response capabilities and save lives in critical situations.

Freeman said Israel intends to further expand cooperation with Nigeria in healthcare, education, security, innovation, agriculture and skills development, stressing that such partnerships represent investments in a shared future rather than acts of charity.

Reflecting on Israel’s journey since independence, the envoy highlighted how the country had transformed itself from a resource-poor nation facing severe security threats into a global leader in technology, medicine, cybersecurity, water management and agriculture.

He attributed Israel’s success to its ability to turn challenges into opportunities, saying the same spirit could drive transformative progress through deeper collaboration with Nigeria.

“The future of Israel-Nigeria relations will not be defined by speeches. It will be defined by entrepreneurs who build companies, farmers who increase their harvests, doctors and paramedics who save lives, and young people who refuse to accept limitations,” he said.

The anniversary celebration underscored the growing diplomatic and economic ties between both countries as they seek to expand cooperation in areas critical to development, innovation and regional stability.

Israel Reaffirms Commitment to Peace, Deepens Partnership with Nigeria at 78th Independence Anniversary

First Batch of Nigerians Fleeing South Africa’s Xenophobic Attacks to Arrive Lagos Thursday

By: Michael Mike

The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks is expected to arrive in Lagos early Thursday as the Federal Government moves to bring home citizens affected by the violence.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that the returnees will depart Johannesburg on Wednesday night aboard an Air Peace aircraft specially designated for the evacuation exercise.

According to the ministry, the flight is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5:00 a.m., marking the beginning of what could become a broader repatriation effort should more Nigerians seek to return home.

The government said it has fully funded the evacuation, ensuring that all affected Nigerians are transported back to the country free of charge.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said necessary arrangements have been concluded to receive the evacuees and provide immediate support upon arrival.

He explained that officials from relevant government agencies will undertake documentation and profiling procedures before the returnees are reunited with their families and provided with appropriate assistance.

The arrival of the first batch comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa following reports of fresh xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.

Although South Africa remains home to thousands of Nigerians engaged in business, professional careers and other economic activities, periodic outbreaks of anti-foreigner violence have continued to threaten the security and livelihoods of migrant communities.

Over the years, attacks blamed on xenophobic sentiments have led to deaths, injuries and destruction of businesses owned by foreign nationals, including Nigerians. Similar incidents in 2019 triggered a large-scale evacuation programme by the Nigerian government after widespread violence erupted in parts of South Africa.

The latest evacuation underscores Abuja’s determination to protect its citizens abroad while responding swiftly to emerging threats to their safety.

Officials said agencies responsible for migration, emergency management and social welfare have been mobilised to ensure a seamless reception process for the returnees when they touch down in Lagos on Thursday morning.

The government has also assured Nigerians in South Africa that it remains in close contact with relevant authorities and will continue to monitor developments as efforts intensify to guarantee the safety and welfare of citizens affected by the unrest.

For many of the evacuees expected on the inaugural flight, Thursday’s arrival will bring an end to days of uncertainty and anxiety, while reopening questions about the recurring cycle of xenophobic violence that has periodically strained relations between Africa’s two largest economies.

First Batch of Nigerians Fleeing South Africa’s Xenophobic Attacks to Arrive Lagos Thursday

Cholera Outbreak Overwhelms Health Facilities in Borno as Nearly 8,000 Fall Ill

By: Michael Mike

A rapidly escalating cholera outbreak in northeastern Nigeria has placed immense pressure on healthcare facilities in Borno State, with nearly 8,000 suspected cases recorded within five weeks and dozens of deaths reported.

Health authorities say the outbreak, which began in early May, has spread across multiple communities, affecting 14 local government areas and 50 wards. Official figures indicate that 7,850 suspected cases and 74 deaths had been recorded as of June 7, raising concerns over the state’s ability to contain the disease.

The surge has forced humanitarian responders and health officials to expand emergency treatment facilities as hundreds of new patients continue to arrive daily with symptoms of acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration.

Working alongside the Borno State Ministry of Health, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) established a Cholera Treatment Centre in the Ngarannam area of Maiduguri shortly after the outbreak emerged. The facility has since undergone multiple expansions, increasing its capacity from 121 beds to 271 beds in response to the growing influx of patients. A separate 20-bed treatment unit has also been opened in the Dalaram area of the state capital.

According to MSF, more than 7,400 patients had received treatment at its facilities by June 7, with an average of about 230 admissions recorded daily. The organisation reported that June 5 marked the peak of the outbreak so far, with more than 500 patients admitted in a single day.

Medical workers on the frontline say many patients arrive in critical condition after travelling long distances to seek treatment.

“The continued increase in cases shows that more needs to be done to prevent transmission and ensure people can access care as early as possible,” said Bienfait Tombola, MSF’s medical coordinator for the emergency response in Maiduguri.

Beyond direct patient care, response teams are training healthcare workers, setting up oral rehydration points, strengthening disease surveillance, and conducting public health awareness campaigns. Efforts are also underway to improve access to safe water through chlorination programmes and sanitation interventions aimed at reducing the spread of the disease.

Public health experts warn that cholera and other waterborne illnesses thrive in communities where access to clean water, sanitation facilities and healthcare services remains limited. Informal settlements and densely populated areas are considered particularly vulnerable.

Health officials are planning a cholera vaccination campaign as part of broader efforts to curb transmission and prevent further spread of the disease.

MSF and state authorities have stressed that while emergency treatment is saving lives, long-term investments in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure will be crucial to preventing recurring outbreaks.

The latest surge adds to the humanitarian challenges facing Borno State, where years of conflict and displacement have strained public services and left many communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks.

Cholera Outbreak Overwhelms Health Facilities in Borno as Nearly 8,000 Fall Ill