According to Premium Times reporting, Nigeria is actively moving to deepen its diplomatic and economic relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reaffirmed this commitment during a high-level meeting in Abuja, stating that the federal government is focused on turning long-standing political goodwill into “tangible outcomes” for both nations.
The primary vehicle for this renewed cooperation will be the Joint Nigeria-Iran Commission, which is expected to facilitate trade in technology, agriculture, and energy. This move is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to diversify its international partnerships and explore new markets for non-oil exports within the Middle East and Central Asia.
This development was also captured by Leadership and Daily Post. Leadership reported that the “partnership seeks to leverage Iran’s expertise in petrochemicals,” while Daily Post mentioned that “security cooperation was also a key talking point during the closed-door session.” Leadership noted, “This bilateral move signals a shift towards non-Western economic alliances,” and Daily Post added, “Both nations are looking to bypass traditional trade barriers.”
Echotitbits take: Strengthening ties with Iran is a bold diplomatic move that could raise eyebrows in Western capitals but offers Nigeria significant leverage in energy technology. The key will be how Nigeria navigates international sanctions affecting Iran while trying to extract economic value.
Source: Leadership – https://leadership.ng/nigeria-iran-strengthen-ties-to-boost-trade-energy/, February 18, 2026
Photo credit: Leadership
