News

On March 6, we mark 20 years of the Declaration on Principles of Friendly Relations and Partnership between Nigeria and Russia, which was signed during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s visit to Moscow. This document added a new dimension to bilateral cooperation and created conditions for advancing it to a higher level.

Since then, Russian-Nigerian relations have surged ahead in all spheres. Relations between our countries are gaining momentum. We also maintain a positive trend in our political dialogue at the high and highest levels, as evidenced by a meeting held between President Vladimir Putin and President Muhammadu Buhari on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in October 2019.

A major impetus has been given to the development of bilateral trade, economic, military, military-technical and humanitarian cooperation. Discussions are underway on the implementation of large Russian investment projects in Nigeria, including in the high-tech sectors. Of great importance in this context is the possibility of partnership in the field of nuclear energy, in particular in the possibility of building a nuclear power station and a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in Nigeria. The promising fields of cooperation include geological exploration and the joint production and processing of hydrocarbons. We continue to train Nigerian professionals at Russian universities. Overall, we have already trained over 10,000 Nigerian professionals.

Despite the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Russian-Nigerian relations remain one of the main aspects of Russia’s foreign policy in Western Africa and the continent as a whole.

We extend our wholehearted greetings to our Nigerian partners on this memorable date in our relations and wish them peace, prosperity and wellbeing.

Source: Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on March 4, 2021