Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its long-standing diplomatic and bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known during a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The discussions provided an opportunity for both countries to review the current state of their relations and explore new areas for enhanced cooperation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the importance of having full diplomatic representation in both capitals and expressed optimism about the early posting of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tehran.
She noted that Nigeria aims to convert political goodwill into tangible results through structured frameworks, including the Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission, while promoting constructive engagement, South-South cooperation, and collaboration within multilateral platforms.
In response, Ambassador Raja conveyed greetings from the Iranian Foreign Minister and reaffirmed Tehran’s dedication to deepening ties with Nigeria.
He stressed Nigeria’s strategic significance in Iran’s Africa policy, particularly in West Africa, and emphasised the urgency of restoring full ambassadorial representation to advance mutual interests.
Raja also called for convening the 7th Session of the Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission in Abuja and activating a Political Consultation mechanism to facilitate regular high-level exchanges.
Both officials explored opportunities to expand cooperation across key sectors, including energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, education, and infrastructure.
The Iranian envoy further highlighted collaboration in healthcare, especially in cancer treatment, and discussed scholarship programmes to support Nigerian students.