Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has invited Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit Singapore as both countries seek to strengthen bilateral relations.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Nigerian Mission House in New York.
According to Ibrahim, Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, delivered the invitation during a visit to the Nigerian Permanent Mission House.
Gafoor presented a letter from President Shanmugaratnam to Ibrahim.
Tinubu Expected to Visit Singapore
Ibrahim thanked the Singaporean government for the invitation.
He also assured Gafoor that the letter would be conveyed to President Tinubu.
The Nigerian envoy added that Tinubu would make time to visit Singapore in the nearest future.
Focus on Bilateral Cooperation
The invitation comes as Nigeria and Singapore look to expand cooperation in several areas.
Ibrahim said Singapore has shown interest in Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms.
He noted that the reforms under the Tinubu administration have attracted international attention.
According to him, areas of interest include multilateralism and national development.
Ibrahim Draws Singapore Comparison
The Nigerian ambassador also compared the approach to Tinubu’s economic reforms with the transformation associated with Singapore’s late former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
He said the comparison reflected what he described as the bold nature of the reforms being pursued by the Nigerian government.
The proposed visit could provide an opportunity for both countries to discuss stronger economic and diplomatic cooperation.
