Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Received The Secretary Of State Of Sweden In Abuja

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, PhD, received the Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Sweden, Her Excellency Diana Janse, on Tuesday 24 March 2026 in Abuja.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to review bilateral relations and exchange views on key areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, and regional security.

During her remarks, the Swedish Secretary of State expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with Nigeria and reaffirmed Sweden’s strong interest in strengthening its partnership with the country. She highlighted Nigeria’s strategic importance within the European Union framework and referenced ongoing efforts to deepen EU-Nigeria relations, particularly through recent high-level engagements and outcomes of the Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue.

The Permanent Secretary in his response
acknowledged the significant contributions of Swedish companies to Nigeria’s economy and commended Sweden’s continued engagement through institutional partnerships and high-level visits.

Both sides underscored the importance of expanding economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on key sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and digital technology. The Permanent Secretary noted the strategic role of the Swedish Trade Office in Lagos in facilitating business engagements, while also encouraging increased participation of Swedish companies in Nigeria’s growing economy.

Discussions also highlighted the contributions of leading Swedish firms, including Ericsson and Scania, particularly the ongoing initiative to supply biogas-powered buses to Lagos State, which reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development and green innovation.

On cultural cooperation, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties in the creative sector. The Swedish Government reiterated its firm commitment to the repatriation of Benin artefacts, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing mutual trust and deepening bilateral relations.

The meeting further addressed challenges related to financial transactions between both countries, with both parties agreeing to explore mechanisms for establishing more efficient and secure banking channels to facilitate trade and investment.

On multilateral cooperation, Nigeria sought Sweden’s support for its candidacies in various international organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and other global bodies. The
The Swedish delegation welcomed the request and indicated that appropriate diplomatic consultations would continue.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional security, particularly in the Sahel and West African sub-region, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in addressing terrorism, transnational crime, and other emerging security challenges. Sweden reaffirmed its solidarity with Nigeria and its commitment to supporting peace and stability efforts through humanitarian and development initiatives.

The discussions further emphasized the importance of digital transformation and the role of trusted technology providers in ensuring secure and resilient infrastructure, which remains critical for attracting sustainable foreign investment.

In conclusion, both parties expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening Nigeria-Sweden relations across political, economic, and cultural domains. They also agreed on the need to sustain high-level engagements and expedite the finalization of pending bilateral agreements to further strengthen cooperation.

Signed:

Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr
Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Abuja