By Harriet Tornguvan
The Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, Meresole Mellejor, highlighted the strong and mutually beneficial relationship between the Philippines and Nigeria during his remarks on the 126th anniversary of Philippine independence, celebrated in Abuja.
Mellejor noted that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines experienced its highest bilateral trade with Nigeria in 2020. In recent years, bilateral trade between the two nations has exceeded one hundred million US dollars.
He also mentioned that around 8,000 Filipinos are employed across various industries in Nigeria.
“The Philippines and Nigeria, though separated by continents and approximately 18 hours of flight time, share a long-standing and robust relationship. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1962, both countries have signed several bilateral agreements and are working on more, all aimed at fostering mutually beneficial outcomes.
"One of the most tangible aspects of our relationship is the presence of our people. At its peak, before the 2009 global financial crisis, an estimated 8,000 Filipinos were working in Nigeria, mainly as professionals in the oil and industrial sectors, factories, and the services sector. Currently, the number is around 3,000 but is increasing as we recover from the pandemic. We are grateful to Nigeria for hosting our nationals,” Mellejor stated.
He added that at the political level, the Philippines and Nigeria maintain regular Joint Commission Meetings between their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs. This year, these meetings are resuming after being paused due to the pandemic.
The ambassador emphasized the significant level of bilateral trade, which reached over one hundred million US dollars at its peak in 2020, and the steady flow of tourists between the two countries.
