President Bola Tinubu will seek a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis at the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The summit begins Monday (today).

Information minister Mohammed Idris said this while addressing State House correspondents in Riyadh on Sunday.

He said Mr Tinubu was keen on seeking a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the conflict.

“So, Nigeria is seizing the moment to lend its voice as a very important player on the global stage to ensure that all countries of the world have a peaceful resolution to this matter,” said the minister.

Mr Idris said Nigeria had been consistent in seeking a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within very secure borders.

According to him, unless a diplomatic solution is found, the conflict may engulf the entire region and, in effect, the entire world.

On the reason for Mr Tinubu’s participation in the summit, Idris said Nigeria was a very important country not just in Africa but on the global stage, hence the invitation of the President to the summit.

“I recall that Nigeria is the biggest black nation on earth, and we have a very close proximity with the Middle East. Nigeria has had a very longstanding relationship with not just countries around the world but also the Middle East.

“Last year, precisely on November 11, 2023, the President was here at the Africa-Saudi summit, then the conflict between Palestine and Israel was very fresh. Nigeria participated and in that summit, and it was agreed that there must be de-escalation of the conflict and return to the diplomatic table,” Mr Idris explained.

The minister added, “Now, one year down the line, we have seen the kind of thing that has happened in Israel and in Palestine. We have seen the kind of loss of lives and destruction of property that everyone around the globe is talking about. So, when this summit was muted and Nigeria was invited, President Tinubu, consistent with his thinking and being very humane, thinks that both countries must de-escalate and must come back to the renegotiating table.”

Mr Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday to attend the summit, which focuses on the current Middle East crisis.

(NAN)