Foreign Affairs Minister Receives Iranian Ambassador, Explores Deeper Bilateral Engagement

The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Monday, 16th February 2026, received the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja. The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to review the state of bilateral relations and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.

During the meeting, Ambassador Mahdavi conveyed warm greetings from the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs and reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to deepening ties with Abuja. He emphasized Nigeria’s strategic importance within Iran’s Africa policy, particularly in the West African sub-region. The Iranian Ambassador stressed the urgency of restoring full diplomatic representation in both capitals and expressed optimism regarding the early deployment of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tehran, noting that ambassadorial presence is crucial for advancing mutual interests.
The Ambassador underscored the need to convene the 7th Session of the Nigeria–Iran Joint Commission, due to be hosted in Abuja, and proposed the activation of a Political Consultation mechanism to enhance regular exchanges at senior official level.

Discussions also focused on expanding cooperation in priority sectors including energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, education, and infrastructure. The Iranian Ambassador highlighted opportunities for collaboration in healthcare, particularly in cancer treatment services, as well as in scholarship programmes for Nigerian students.

The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu in her response congratulated the Iranian Ambassador on his appointment and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding cordial relations with Iran, established in 1973. She acknowledged the importance of full diplomatic representation in both capitals and expressed optimism regarding the early posting of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tehran.

The Honourable Minister also welcomed proposals for enhanced economic cooperation and emphasized Nigeria’s interest in translating political goodwill into tangible outcomes through structured mechanisms such as the Joint Commission.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to constructive engagement, South-South cooperation, and continued collaboration within multilateral fora. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and reflected the mutual desire of both countries to further consolidate Nigeria-Iran relations.

Signed:

Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr
Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja