Russia pledges deeper cooperation with Nigeria across key economic sectors
pannigeriannews
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The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, Amb. Andrey Pudelyshev, says Russia is committed to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in several strategic sectors of the economy.
Pudelyshev stated this on Tuesday night in Abuja at an event marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries.
He expressed concern that trade volume between Nigeria and Russia was still below 1 billion dollars, a figure he said did not reflect the true potential of the two nations.
“We, therefore, see before us a serious and inspiring task to expand practical cooperation in energy, agriculture, transport, extractive industries, the digital economy and higher technologies,” he said.
Describing the anniversary as “an occasion of trust,” the envoy recalled that the Soviet Union supported Nigeria during periods of internal difficulties, standing firmly for the country’s unity.
“We did not impose ready-made solutions, did not preach, and did not dictate. We stood with Nigeria as a reliable and respectful partner. Without exaggeration, we made an early start. During the most challenging years, Russia and Nigeria stood shoulder-to-shoulder in defending the unity of the state and the rights of its people to determine their own future,” he said.
Pudelyshev noted that over the decades, bilateral relations had expanded beyond politics into energy, geology, education, science, agriculture and culture, with dozens of agreements signed.
He stressed the need to revive the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, saying it would help drive current priorities. He also highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration among regions, universities, parliaments, business communities and political institutions.
According to him, cooperation in military and military-technical areas also remains of mutual interest. He reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Speaking on global platforms, Pudelyshev said Nigeria’s participation in BRICS had created new momentum in bilateral cooperation. He announced that the BRICS Plus International Conference on combating terrorism would open next week in Moscow and expressed hope that Nigeria would participate, given its leadership role in regional security.
“Russia supports the reform of the United Nations Security Council and believes that Africa and Nigeria, as the continent’s largest democracy and a major economic power, should have a more prominent voice in global governance,” he added.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, said Nigeria and Russia had built relations on shared principles of sovereignty, non-interference and respect for international law.
He noted that Russia’s longstanding support to Nigeria—particularly in education, training and technical cooperation—had helped strengthen ties over the past 65 years.
“Our bilateral relations have matured and diversified. Nigeria and Russia have maintained steady high-level dialogue and consultations on global and regional issues,” Ahmed said.
He added that both nations were exploring opportunities in energy, mining, agriculture, transportation and manufacturing, combining Nigeria’s expanding economic potential with Russia’s technological expertise.
“The prospects for deeper economic integration are significant. We look forward to accelerating negotiations and implementation of joint projects that can deliver tangible benefits to the citizens of both countries,” he said.
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