Nigeria and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with both countries exploring closer cooperation in energy, trade, security and economic development.
The commitment was made during a meeting between Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Miah Md. Mainul Kabir, in Abuja.
A key highlight of the discussions was Bangladesh’s recent diplomatic achievement following the election of its Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, as President of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Bangladeshi envoy expressed appreciation to Nigeria for its support and called for continued collaboration on issues of mutual interest at the global level.
Ambassador Ahmed congratulated Bangladesh on the milestone, describing the election as a significant recognition of the country’s growing role in international diplomacy. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to support Bangladesh during its tenure and pledged continued cooperation in advancing South-South partnerships and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Both countries reviewed measures aimed at strengthening diplomatic engagement through regular political consultations, exchange of high-level visits and the conclusion of pending bilateral agreements, including an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.
Speaking during the meeting, High Commissioner Kabir disclosed that Bangladesh was working towards finalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the importation of petroleum and gas products from Nigeria.
According to him, Bangladesh is seeking to diversify its energy sources and considers Nigeria a strategic partner in meeting its growing energy needs.
In response, Ambassador Ahmed said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to accelerate discussions and facilitate the conclusion of the agreement.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda and encouraged Bangladeshi investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria’s mining, agriculture, pharmaceutical and information and communications technology sectors.
He further expressed Nigeria’s interest in partnering with Bangladeshi businesses to revive the country’s textile industry, noting that such collaboration could stimulate industrial growth and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
On security matters, Ambassador Ahmed advocated stronger military and intelligence cooperation between both countries to tackle common challenges, including terrorism and transnational crimes. He also sought Bangladesh’s support for Nigeria’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2030–2031 term.
The two countries agreed to finalise arrangements for the inaugural session of their bilateral consultation mechanism, which is expected to facilitate regular high-level engagement and deepen cooperation across strategic sectors.