By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

Nigeria and Iran have signaled a renewed push to strengthen diplomatic, economic and strategic cooperation, following high-level talks in Abuja that placed trade, energy, and multilateral engagement at the center of bilateral relations.

The discussions, held on December 17 at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, PhD, and Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Madhavi Raja. The meeting marked one of the first formal engagements since Ambassador Raja presented his Letters of Credence to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Iran’s envoy described Nigeria as a cornerstone of Tehran’s engagement with Africa, calling the country a “gateway to West Africa” and a strategic partner on the continent. He recalled more than five decades of diplomatic relations between both nations but expressed concern over the absence of a Nigerian ambassador in Tehran in recent years — a gap he said had slowed bilateral momentum.

Ambassador Raja welcomed Nigeria’s plans to re-establish diplomatic representation in Iran, stressing that sustained engagement would be critical to advancing cooperation in trade, oil and gas, agriculture, mining, and downstream industries.

Economic cooperation dominated the talks, with Ambassador Raja identifying it as Iran’s top priority in its relationship with Nigeria. He said Tehran is keen to move beyond traditional trade by encouraging Iranian companies to pursue joint ventures and direct investments in Nigeria.

Both countries, he noted, share membership in key global and regional platforms — including OPEC, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and the Developing Eight (D-8) — which he described as “natural platforms” for advancing common economic and strategic interests.

Iran also announced its readiness to convene the 7th Session of the Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission in 2026, signaling an intent to institutionalize cooperation across multiple sectors.

On Nigeria’s side, Ambassador Ahmed reaffirmed Abuja’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, conveying what officials described as Nigeria’s “goodwill and strategic intent.” He congratulated Iran on the recent discovery of a significant gold deposit in its southern region, calling it a positive boost for the Iranian economy.

Nigeria also praised Iran’s advances in science and technology and expressed interest in expanding collaboration in medicine, agriculture, education, and governance. According to the Permanent Secretary, deeper cooperation in these areas would promote skills development, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer for mutual benefit.

Ahmed further assured Iran that Nigeria would intensify efforts to fully implement existing bilateral agreements, including the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, as part of broader efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties.

The talks also touched on global and regional issues, with Nigeria reiterating its support for diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving Iran’s nuclear challenges. Abuja commended Tehran’s continued commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue within international organizations.

Both sides discussed cooperation within ECOWAS, where Iran’s ambassador serves as Tehran’s representative, as well as engagements at the United Nations and the OIC. Nigerian officials stressed that multilateral platforms remain vital for advancing peace, stability and international cooperation.

Officials on both sides described the meeting as the start of more sustained engagement aimed at translating diplomatic goodwill into tangible outcomes. Plans are already underway to mark the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Iran in May 2026.

The talks concluded on a cordial note, with mutual assurances of support and a shared commitment to elevating Nigeria–Iran relations through economic growth, strategic collaboration and regional stability.