Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a renewed emphasis on trade, investment, energy cooperation and multilateral engagement. This was the focus of a high level diplomatic meeting held on 17 December 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The meeting brought together the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed PhD, and the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, His Excellency Gholamreza Madhavi Raja. The engagement marked one of the first formal interactions since the Iranian envoy presented his Letters of Credence to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signalling a new phase in diplomatic relations between both countries.
Ambassador Raja highlighted Nigeria’s strategic significance in Iran’s foreign policy, describing the country as a key gateway to West Africa and an important partner for broader engagement with the African continent. He recalled more than five decades of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Iran, noting that both nations share common interests as major players in the Global South with similar aspirations for economic growth, technological advancement and political independence.
According to the Iranian ambassador, there is significant untapped potential for expanding bilateral trade and investment, particularly in sectors such as energy, petrochemicals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. He expressed Iran’s readiness to deepen cooperation in oil and gas development, refining capacity, and downstream industries, areas where both countries possess considerable expertise and shared challenges.
Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed welcomed Iran’s renewed engagement and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships based on respect, transparency and shared economic interests. He noted that Nigeria remains open to strategic investments that support industrialisation, job creation and energy security, while also strengthening South South cooperation.
Both sides agreed on the importance of enhancing existing bilateral frameworks, including joint commissions and technical working groups, to translate diplomatic goodwill into concrete outcomes. Discussions also touched on cooperation within multilateral platforms, where Nigeria and Iran often align on issues affecting developing countries, including economic equity, sanctions, climate change and reform of global governance institutions.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to sustained diplomatic dialogue and practical collaboration, aimed at elevating Nigeria Iran relations beyond political engagement into measurable economic and strategic partnerships. As both countries navigate complex global and regional dynamics, the renewed drive for cooperation reflects a broader effort to diversify alliances and pursue development through strengthened international partnerships.
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