By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday hosted Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, at the Ministry’s office in Abuja for talks on deepening bilateral cooperation. Gawkowski was accompanied by Polish Ambassador Michal Cygan and his team.
Welcoming the delegation, Tunji-Ojo described the visit as a significant step toward advancing relations between Nigeria and Poland. He said the engagement marked the beginning of a stronger and more strategic partnership between both countries.
The Minister emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to collaboration and shared development, noting that both nations have unique strengths that can be leveraged to address common challenges and create new opportunities.
“This visit isn’t just another diplomatic meeting,” Tunji-Ojo said. “It’s building the foundation for a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between Nigeria and Poland.”
Discussions centered on expanding cooperation in border management, internal security systems, technology transfer, cybersecurity, innovation, and institutional capacity development. The Minister said Nigeria was keen to learn from Poland’s expertise and explore technical partnerships and investment opportunities.
Tunji-Ojo also acknowledged ongoing diplomatic talks and welcomed plans for his upcoming visit to Poland. He said the trip would open further conversations with Polish government agencies and business leaders in the security and internal affairs sectors.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness for international investment and partnerships, citing recent economic reforms such as exchange rate unification, inflation control measures, and the removal of fuel subsidies. According to him, these steps are aimed at reshaping the economy and boosting investor confidence.
“We look forward to formalising our cooperation through official agreements and building practical solutions that will benefit both countries,” the Minister added.
Gawkowski thanked Nigeria for the warm reception and commended the growing momentum in Polish-Nigerian relations. He described Nigeria as a nation with significant economic, demographic, and technological potential, and a strategic partner for long-term cooperation.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Poland was ready to contribute through its expertise in innovation, digitalisation, infrastructure development, and advanced technologies. He extended a formal invitation to Tunji-Ojo to visit Poland soon, expressing optimism that continued engagement would create new opportunities for both government institutions and the private sector.
