Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > November, 2004

Japan-Nigeria Summit Meeting Tuesday, November 2, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, President Obasanjo expressed his words of condolence for the damages caused by the earthquakes and typhoons as well as for the murder of the Japanese hostage in Iraq. He further requested the cooperation of Japan in the economic area in particular, by stating that, "Nigeria is fulfilling a central role in promoting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which proclaims that the African countries themselves shall take the initiative in resolving the issues they carry. Nigeria asks the international community to cooperate in the areas of promotion of trade and investment, increasing amount of official development assistance (ODA) and debt reduction." In response, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Since Nigeria has a major presence in Africa, the development in Nigeria will set a model for other African countries. Japan intends to provide necessary assistance."