Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations with a focus on trade, investment and energy cooperation, following a high-level diplomatic meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The engagement, held on 17 December 2025, involved Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, underscoring a renewed commitment to deepen economic ties that span five decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both sides emphasised the importance of a sustained diplomatic presence including plans by Nigeria to appoint an ambassador to Tehran to accelerate cooperation.
Iran identified trade and investment as priority areas, with a shift toward joint ventures and direct investments by Iranian firms in Nigeria’s economy, rather than only conventional trade. Key sectors highlighted for mutual cooperation include oil and gas, agriculture, mining, and downstream industries, where both nations see opportunities to expand economic engagement.
The two countries also discussed leveraging multilateral platforms such as OPEC, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum to promote shared interests, enhance economic diplomacy, and foster broader cooperation across Africa and the Middle East.
Nigeria reiterated support for constructive international engagement, including continued cooperation on global peace initiatives and diplomatic efforts related to energy and security matters, while also commending Iran’s advancements in science and technology as areas ripe for partnership.
