Nigeria’s new Ambassador to Spain, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has signalled a push to turn the country’s relationship with Spain into more practical economic and institutional partnerships, with direct air connectivity emerging as one of the issues on his diplomatic agenda.

Ikpeazu stated this after formally presenting his Letters of Credence to Spain’s King Felipe VI at the Royal Palace in Madrid, an engagement that formally marked the beginning of his assignment as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Spain.

At the ceremony, the Ambassador conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s greetings to the Spanish monarch, government and people, while reaffirming Nigeria’s interest in expanding cooperation with Spain across trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, security and people-to-people relations.

Beyond the formal diplomatic exchange, Ikpeazu identified the review and revitalisation of existing bilateral agreements as necessary to align Nigeria-Spain relations with present-day economic priorities. He singled out the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, arguing that improved direct air connectivity could facilitate business, tourism and stronger interaction between citizens of both countries.

The Ambassador also sought greater involvement of the private sector, academic institutions, cultural organisations, civil society and communities in bilateral engagement, saying stronger institutional and commercial links could help convert existing goodwill between Nigeria and Spain into measurable economic opportunities.

At a reception organised by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid after the credential ceremony, Ikpeazu also placed the Nigerian community in Spain within his diplomatic priorities, describing Nigerians resident in the country as an important link between the two nations. He pledged that the Mission would continue to protect their interests and strengthen their engagement with the Embassy.

The event, attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Spanish Government officials, business and cultural stakeholders and Nigerians resident in Spain, provided the new envoy an opportunity to outline his priorities. He said the Embassy would work with the Spanish Government, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to deepen cooperation and pursue outcomes capable of advancing shared prosperity.