The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening longstanding diplomatic relations with Iran, originally established in 1973.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known during a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to review the status of bilateral relations and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised Nigeria’s interest in translating political goodwill into measurable outcomes through structured frameworks such as the Joint Nigeria-Iran Commission. She also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement, South-South cooperation and continued collaboration within multilateral platforms.
She stressed the importance of full diplomatic representation in both Abuja and Tehran and expressed optimism about the early posting of Nigeria’s ambassador to Iran’s capital.
In his remarks, Raja conveyed greetings from Tehran and reiterated Iran’s commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria. He described Nigeria as strategically important within Iran’s Africa policy, particularly in the West African sub-region.
The envoy underscored the need to restore full ambassadorial representation in both capitals, noting that such presence is critical to advancing mutual interests.
He also called for the convening of the 7th Session of the Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission in Abuja and the activation of a Political Consultation mechanism to facilitate regular high-level exchanges.
Discussions during the meeting focused on expanding cooperation in priority sectors, including energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, education and infrastructure.
The Iranian envoy highlighted potential collaboration in healthcare services, particularly cancer treatment, as well as scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
