The Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, on Tuesday received Sweden’s Secretary of State, Diana Janse, in Abuja, in a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between both countries.
The high-level meeting focused on reviewing bilateral ties and exploring opportunities for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, and regional security. Both officials exchanged views on expanding collaboration in critical sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and digital technology.
Janse reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Nigeria, describing the country as strategically important within the European Union framework. She also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen EU-Nigeria relations through outcomes from the Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue.
In his remarks, Ahmed commended the contributions of Swedish companies operating in Nigeria, particularly Ericsson and Scania, noting their role in supporting economic growth and innovation. He also acknowledged initiatives such as the supply of biogas-powered buses to Lagos State, which aligns with Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.
Both parties emphasized the importance of the Swedish Trade Office in Lagos in facilitating business engagements and called for increased participation of Swedish firms in Nigeria’s expanding economy.
Cultural diplomacy also featured prominently, with Sweden reiterating its commitment to the repatriation of Benin artefacts an effort both sides described as key to building trust and strengthening cultural ties.
On multilateral cooperation, Nigeria sought Sweden’s backing for its candidacies in global institutions, including the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Swedish delegation welcomed the request, pledging continued diplomatic consultations.
Discussions further covered regional security concerns in the Sahel and West Africa, with both countries stressing the need for stronger international collaboration to combat terrorism and transnational crime. Sweden expressed solidarity with Nigeria and reaffirmed its support for peacebuilding and humanitarian initiatives.
Both nations also agreed to address challenges related to financial transactions by exploring more efficient and secure banking channels to boost trade and investment flows.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing satisfaction with the outcomes and a shared commitment to sustaining high-level engagements while fast-tracking pending bilateral agreements to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres.
