President Rouhani Hopes for Broadening of Ties with Nigeria

In a message to his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, President Rouhani congratulated the Independence Day of Nigeria, and expressed the hope that Tehran-Abuja ties would expand and deepen at mutual, regional, and international levels.

"Taking into consideration the political, economic, and parliamentarian cooperation grounds, I hope the relations between the two countries will expand and deepen," he said.

President Rouhani also wished health for the Nigerian president and prosperity and honor for the Nigerian people.

Iran's Ambassador to Abuja Mohammad Ali Bak and Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Marlin Sylva in a meeting in Abuja last month underlined the need to expand cooperation in the field of energy resources.

During the meeting in the Nigerian capital, the Iranian ambassador and the Nigerian minister explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating bilateral relations, specially in the field of economy and energy. 

Referring to the the many commonalities between Iran and Nigeria in the field of energy, including the membership of the two countries in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Assembly of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the two sides stressed the need to further expand cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy.

Iranian ambassador presented his credentials to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja earlier in September.

In a relevant development in November 2019, Iranian Vice President for Economic Affairs Mohammad Nahavandian, in a meeting with President Buhari, highlighted that the two sides can increase economic relations in areas of petrochemicals, energy, agriculture and industry, adding that Tehran is willing to help Abuja with investment and technology transfer.

Speaking during the bilateral meeting with Buhari held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on the sidelines of the 5th Summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Nahavandian referred to the vast potentials of expanding ties between the two countries, saying, “A lot can be done. We can do miracles. We have the vision.”

He suggested four major areas – petrochemical, power, irrigation agriculture and industry – for economic cooperation between the two sides.