Israel appears to be forging closer ties with a West African country as it donates ambulances and medical equipment amid growing international pressure

The first consignment was handed over at the Port of Ashdod by Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service, on behalf of the Israeli government.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, Nkechi Ufochukwu, received the donation, which includes fully equipped ambulances, modern medical devices and mobility aids such as wheelchairs.

The equipment is expected to be deployed to hospitals and emergency centres across Nigeria to support patient care, emergency response and disaster management.

Ufochukwu said the donation would strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system, particularly in underserved communities.

“We deeply appreciate Israel’s commitment to saving lives and deepening bilateral ties. This donation is a clear demonstration of friendship and solidarity between our two nations,” Ambassador Ufochukwu stated.

Officials from Magen David Adom, Israel’s Ministry of Health and the Nigerian Embassy in Tel Aviv attended the handover.

The shipment follows a pledge made in February, when then-Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Michael Freeman said Israel planned to donate between 50 and 60 ambulances, starting with an initial batch of three or four.

Freeman said Israel was already working with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health on the programme and would also train personnel to operate the ambulances.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, welcomed the pledge, saying it would help address gaps in the country’s emergency response system.

“These kinds of initiatives are very significant because we have challenges regarding first responders. For me, this is just the beginning of integrating an ambulance culture in Nigeria,” she said.

The ambulance deliveries come as Abuja and Tel Aviv deepen cooperation in security and defence.

In April 2025, Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence said both countries were working on a new defence agreement covering training, joint operations, knowledge exchange and defence-industry cooperation.

That engagement continued into 2026, with Nigerian and Israeli officials discussing security, intelligence sharing and border management in June.

The latest shipment therefore marks the start of Israel fulfilling its earlier medical pledge while broader bilateral ties continue to expand.

For Nigeria, the equipment supports efforts to improve emergency response and healthcare access across Africa’s most populous country, where gaps in infrastructure and emergency transport remain a challenge.

The wider engagement also comes as Israel seeks to strengthen partnerships across Africa while facing continued international scrutiny over the war and broader security tensions in the Middle East. (Business Insider Africa, excluding headline)