National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nentawe Yilwatda met with the ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Nigeria Bui Quoc Hung at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The statement was released by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the APC National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy.
During the meeting, Chairman Yilwatda congratulated Vietnam and the Communist Party of Vietnam on the country’s 80th anniversary.
He noted that Nigeria’s democratic journey had been interrupted by military rule but had continued uninterrupted since 1999, following the efforts of pro-democracy activists, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The APC chairman highlighted economic developments under the current administration, saying Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment had stabilised and the country was recording about four percent annual growth.
He said per capita growth ranks among the highest in Africa, and Nigeria contributed about 1.5 percent to global GDP last year.
Yilwatda added that government policies had reduced imports, created trade surpluses, and increased local petroleum production to cover more than 90 percent of domestic consumption.
On social programmes, Yilwatda said the government had introduced health insurance coverage for vulnerable citizens.
He also spoke about infrastructure projects, including the Sokoto–Badagry highway and Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, which aim to improve transportation, agricultural production, and regional trade.
The chairman further discussed Nigeria’s agricultural potential, stating that the country could serve as a major food supply hub for neighbouring countries.
He noted ongoing rail projects linking Nigeria with Niger to enhance regional trade.
Yilwatda also mentioned education initiatives, including low-cost public tertiary education and student loans with repayment only after beneficiaries secure employment.
Ambassador Hung commended growing relations between Nigeria and Vietnam.
He said bilateral trade reached one billion dollars in 2024/2025, up from around six hundred million dollars annually in previous years.
Vietnam currently imports crude oil and raw materials from Nigeria while exporting textiles and other goods to the Nigerian market.
Hung expressed interest in collaborating on rice production in Nigeria using Vietnam’s agricultural technology.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening party-to-party relations between the APC and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Both leaders agreed on the need to continue building diplomatic, economic and political cooperation for mutual benefit and sustainable development.
