The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Ghana as both countries move to resolve the protracted commercial dispute surrounding the ownership of River Park Estate along Airport Road, Lugbe, Abuja.

The assurance came on Thursday when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, received the Acting High Commissioner of Ghana in Abuja to discuss recent developments relating to the dispute between a Ghanaian investor and his Nigerian business counterpart.

The meeting focused on preventing the disagreement over the multi-billion-naira estate from escalating into an issue capable of straining the cordial relations that have existed between the two West African neighbours for decades.

Welcoming the Ghanaian delegation, Ambassador Ahmed reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Ghana.

He assured the delegation that the Federal Government would address the concerns raised through the appropriate diplomatic and institutional channels.

The Permanent Secretary stressed that although the matter appeared to be commercial and legal in nature, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would carefully study the issues presented by the Ghanaian side before forwarding its findings and recommendations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for further action.

“The Ministry attaches great importance to issues affecting the welfare of citizens of friendly countries residing in Nigeria and will carefully examine the concerns presented,” he said.

Ahmed further assured the delegation that relevant government institutions would be engaged, where necessary, through established diplomatic channels to ensure the matter is handled responsibly.

He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law, noting that the country remains dedicated to protecting legitimate investments while encouraging all parties involved to pursue peaceful dialogue and lawful mechanisms for resolving their differences.

Earlier, the Acting High Commissioner of Ghana thanked the Permanent Secretary for granting the delegation an audience at short notice.

She described the meeting as another demonstration of the strong diplomatic ties between both countries.

According to her, Ghana considered it necessary to engage Nigeria through official diplomatic channels to prevent the commercial disagreement from generating unnecessary public tension capable of affecting the relationship between the two nations.

The Acting High Commissioner expressed concern over the safety and welfare of Ghanaian nationals connected with the investment.

She alleged that recent developments surrounding the ownership dispute over River Park Estate had heightened tensions and appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate engagement with the relevant Nigerian authorities.

The envoy urged the Nigerian government to ensure the protection of lives, property and investments while legal proceedings relating to the disputed estate continue.

She maintained that Ghana remained committed to resolving the matter peacefully and in accordance with the law, expressing confidence that both countries possessed the diplomatic maturity to prevent the dispute from affecting broader bilateral cooperation.

Responding, Ambassador Ahmed assured the delegation that Nigeria values its historic relationship with Ghana and remains committed to maintaining an atmosphere that encourages investment, protects foreign nationals and promotes mutual trust among partner nations.

He added that the Ministry would continue working closely with the Ghana High Commission and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the matter is managed in a manner that safeguards the interests of all parties without undermining the enduring friendship between the two countries.

The dispute over the ownership of River Park Estate has attracted public attention in recent months, with both governments now emphasising dialogue and legal processes as the most appropriate path towards a lasting resolution.