Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership Pushes For Stronger Cooperation In Energy Development

The director-general of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has called for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and China in the coming year.

Tegbe, in his new year message, extended warm Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians in Nigeria and China as they celebrate the yuletide season.

He reaffirmed that the NCSP remains committed to translating Nigeria–China cooperation into tangible economic gains through strategic investments in agriculture, automotive manufacturing, mining, steel, and energy, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the message, Tegbe described Christmas as a season that embodies the enduring values of love, peace, sacrifice, and unity, principles he noted remain fundamental to fostering harmony within societies and strengthening international partnerships.

He urged Christians of Nigerian and Chinese descent to draw inspiration from the birth and life of Jesus Christ, as enshrined in the Holy Scriptures, and to continue to uphold these values in promoting peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and shared progress.

Looking ahead to 2026, Tegbe expressed optimism that the coming year holds immense potential for deepening cooperation and advancing the broader objectives of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Nigeria and China, particularly as both countries continue to strengthen economic ties.

By Chika Izuora, Leadership

Related story: Nigeria attracts $1.3bn Chinese lithium investment amid push for clean energy value chains

Nigeria provided US with intelligence for strikes on Islamist militants, says foreign minister

Nigeria provided the US with intelligence on jihadists before the strikes that took place in the country on Christmas Day, its foreign ministry said on Friday.

On Thursday, the US president, Donald Trump, said the US military had carried out strikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria, after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president said: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”

Now, Nigerian foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has told broadcaster ChannelsTV that he was on the phone with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and that Nigeria “provided” the intelligence.

“We spoke twice. We spoke for 19 minutes before the strike and then we spoke again for another five minutes before it went on,” Tuggar said.

He added that they spoke “extensively” and that President Bola Tinubu gave “the go-ahead” to launch the strikes.

Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an “ongoing process” that would also involve other countries.

In an interview with the BBC, Tuggar insisted the strikes had “nothing to do with a particular religion”. He said the operation did not have “anything to do with Christmas, it could be any other day - it is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians”.

Trump has previously said he would launch a “guns-a-blazing” US military intervention in Nigeria, claiming that the country’s government has been inadequate in its efforts to prevent attacks on Christians by Islamist groups.

The Guardian

US ramps up intelligence flights over Nigeria amid Trump’s intervention threat

The United States has stepped up intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to flight-tracking data and current and former US officials cited by Reuters, signalling a renewed focus on security cooperation in West Africa.

The surveillance missions come weeks after President Donald Trump threatened possible military intervention in Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to curb violence against Christian communities. While the precise intelligence being collected remains unclear, the timing has heightened scrutiny of Washington’s intentions in Africa’s most populous country.

Flight data reviewed by Reuters shows that contractor-operated aircraft have been taking off from Accra, Ghana, flying over Nigerian territory, and returning to the Ghanaian capital.

The operator is Tenax Aerospace, a Mississippi-based company that provides special-mission aircraft and works closely with the US military. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

Analysts say the flights underscore a strategic recalibration following the US military’s forced withdrawal from Niger last year. Niger ordered American troops to leave a newly built air base and subsequently turned to Russia for security assistance, weakening Washington’s intelligence footprint in the Sahel.

Liam Karr, Africa team lead at the American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project, described the flights as an early indication that the US is rebuilding its intelligence and surveillance capacity in the region. He noted that Accra has long served as a key logistics hub for US military operations in Africa.

“In recent weeks, we have seen a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights in Nigeria,” Karr said, adding that the operational pattern suggested a deliberate effort to re-establish situational awareness after setbacks elsewhere in the Sahel.

A former US official told Reuters that the aircraft was among several assets repositioned to Ghana in November under the Trump administration.

According to the official, the missions include attempts to locate a US pilot kidnapped earlier this year in neighbouring Niger Republic, as well as broader intelligence collection on militant activity in Nigeria.

Nigeria continues to battle multiple armed groups, most notably Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province, both of which have carried out deadly attacks in the country’s north east and beyond. Persistent insecurity has strained Nigeria’s security forces and drawn increasing international concern.

For African observers, the renewed US surveillance raises questions about sovereignty and the long-term implications of foreign military involvement.

For global audiences, it highlights how shifting alliances in the Sahel, coupled with domestic political rhetoric in Washington, are reshaping US engagement across West Africa.

Related story: Trump recalls US envoy to Nigeria as part of “America First” diplomatic overhaul

By Segun Adeyemi, Business Insider Africa

Trump recalls US envoy to Nigeria as part of “America First” diplomatic overhaul

Donald Trump, the United States president, has ordered the recall of Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, along with a wave of career diplomats stationed across Africa and other regions, in a sweeping realignment of America’s diplomatic corps to reflect his “America First” foreign policy agenda.

According to a report by Politico and other U.S media reports, the move affects ambassadors who were originally appointed during the Joe Biden administration and will see their tenures end in January 2026. While the diplomats are not being dismissed from the foreign service, they will return to Washington for potential reassignment, as their roles as chiefs of mission come to a close.

Africa has emerged as the hardest-hit region, with envoys from 13 countries—including Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Uganda—among those recalled. Diplomats in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere have also been affected, though to a lesser extent.

A State Department official, speaking on background, confirmed the reshuffle and described it as consistent with presidential prerogative. “An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” read a department statement, which added that such transitions are a “standard process in any administration.”

The decision has nonetheless sparked concern among foreign policy observers and within the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the union representing US diplomats. Lawmakers, particularly those focused on US-Africa relations, have also voiced unease over the abrupt nature of the changes.

For Nigeria—a strategic partner in West Africa on counterterrorism, economic development, and democratic governance—the departure of Ambassador Mills marks a significant shift in bilateral engagement. Analysts warn the move could temporarily disrupt ongoing diplomatic initiatives and complicate coordination on shared security priorities, including efforts against Boko Haram and regional stabilisation programmes.

Although the recalled officials retain their positions within the State Department, the scale and timing of the reshuffle signal a deliberate pivot in US global posture, underscoring the Trump administration’s emphasis on aligning diplomatic missions with its domestic-centric policy framework.

Embassies in affected nations are expected to operate under interim leadership—often deputies or chargés d’affaires—until new nominees are confirmed, a process that could take months amid a divided Senate.

Business Day

Video - Nigeria rushes to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran

With airstrikes targeting major cities and airports closed, hundreds of Nigerians remain stranded in high-risk areas, causing growing concern among families at home. Evacuation plans are underway, with Nigerian embassies in both capitals coordinating efforts with international partners.

CGTN

Germany, Nigeria to deepen cooperation in economy, migration

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described Nigeria as a key partner of Berlin in Africa. "We just want to deepen our cooperation," he said after talks with his Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar, on Thursday.

"For both the European Union and Germany, the African continent is the continent of the future," Wadephul added.

There are "an incredible number of opportunities" to expand the economic cooperation with African countries, said the German minister, citing the example of rare earths, abundant in many parts of Africa.

Wadephul said that he wanted to encourage the German private sector to become more involved in Nigeria and used car manufacturer Volkswagen as a positive example of this.

Wadephul also highlighted the issue migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea and heading to Europe, specifically Germany.

"We have with Nigeria an ideal partner to discuss how we can tackle this problem. We agreed to cooperate very closely," he added.

'Nigeria is blessed with critical minerals'

Meanwhile, Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria is already Germany's second largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Nigerian minister held out the prospect of intensifying trade relations, particularly in critical raw materials. "Nigeria is blessed with a lot of critical minerals," he said.

Tuggar also announced closer cooperation in energy sector, including on renewable energies, and labor migration.

With over 220 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. "Projections show that by 2050 we'll have 400 million people," Tuggar said.

"What we are looking to do is not to export people but to export talent," he explained. "That's why we are looking to work with countries like Germany on structured solutions to job creation and to tackling the issues of irregular migration."

German-Nigerian relations

According to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Berlin views Nigeria as a key player in promoting stability and democracy in the broader region, as well as a country with significant economic potential.

In December, German President Steinmeier visited Nigeria with a business delegation. The German-Nigerian Binational Commission, founded in 2011, has working groups in business, energy, politics, culture, and migration. The commission last met in 2021.

New impetus was injected into cultural relations by the return of the first Benin Bronzes to Nigeria by then Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in December 2022.

To combat terrorist threats, the German government is training and equipping Nigerian security forces and contributing to transnational stabilization projects.

Energy partnership

Nigeria is Germany's second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified energy cooperation as a key focus area for bilateral economic relations.

The German-Nigerian Energy Partnership, established in 2008, expanded in 2021 in line with the German government's National Hydrogen Strategy with the opening of a hydrogen office in Abuja.

Priorities of development cooperation with Nigeria include sustainable economic development, vocational training, employment, rural development, expanding renewables, and healthcare.

By Dmytro Hubenko, DW

Russia is set to initiate new shipping line with Nigeria

The service, which is scheduled to begin operations in mid-June, will be operated by Russia's A7 African Cargo Line.

Initially, two 700-TEU container ships will service the route, with future development plans aimed at Senegal, as reported by Sputnik.

According to Maxim Petrov, Russia's Trade Representative in Nigeria, the shipping line would facilitate the sale of Russian agricultural products, machinery, and transportation equipment to Nigeria.

In return, it will allow Russia to purchase cotton from fellow West African state, Mali, a crucial regional product with an annual yield of over 650,000 tons.

Simultaneously, Nigeria and Russia are strengthening military relations.

Russia and Nigeria’s growing ties in 2025 so far

In March 2025, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-bek Yevkurov and Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, met to explore the extension of the two nations' current defense cooperation.

This military partnership stems from a 2021 deal under which Russia would supply training, logistics, and equipment to the Nigerian military.

Financial relations have also improved. In February 2025, Russia officially added Nigeria to the list of countries eligible for currency trading in its banking system.

Tunisia and Ethiopia were also included, bringing the total number of eligible African countries to seven and further integrating the region into Russia's financial efforts.

The previous list, authorized in September 2023, comprised Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.

This inclusion corresponds with Nigeria's admission to the BRICS group of nations as a partner country. Following South Africa, Nigeria became the second African nation and ninth member to achieve BRICS partner status in January 2025.

These initiatives, taken together, provide a picture of Russia and Nigeria's quickly changing relationship, one that is moving beyond rhetoric and into tangible cooperation.

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

Nigeria to appoint ambassadors, 18 months after worldwide recall

Nigeria's government has started vetting potential candidates to lead its more than 100 diplomatic missions, with appointments expected "very soon", 18 months after President Bola Tinubu recalled all ambassadors, sources familiar with the matter said.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist insurgents in West Africa, has operated without ambassadors since September 2023.

The minister of foreign affairs has previously blamed a lack of funds for the delay in naming new diplomats.

A government source told Reuters that the issue "is being resolved" and "that means the appointment will be announced very soon."

Nigeria's security services were conducting background checks on possible appointees and had started sharing their findings with the relevant agencies within the presidency and legislature, an intelligence official told Reuters.

A spokesperson from the presidency referred questions to the foreign affairs ministry, which declined to comment. The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak on the matter.

Since coming to power in May 2023, Tinubu has prioritised fixing Nigeria's struggling economy, with foreign policy taking a back seat, said a former ambassador who served in Africa and the United States.

The government has this year budgeted 302.4 billion naira ($198.30 million) to run its foreign missions.
The former Nigerian ambassador said he was informed by government officials that the issue of the absence of ambassadors in their countries had come up in discussions between Tinubu and some foreign leaders.

"Assurance had been given that they will soon be appointed," said the former ambassador, who declined to be named.

By Ope Adetayo, Reuters

From nuclear deal to military co-operation, Russia continues its push into Nigeria

 

Officials from both countries recently discussed the expansion of a defence pact between Nigeria and Russia.

Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-bek Yevkurov and Chief of Defense Staff of the Nigerian Army Christopher Musa conversed on the subject, as realyed by the Russian embassy.

The embassy further added that both parties seemed pleased with the progress Nigeria and Russia have made regarding military-technical cooperation and discussed plans to deepen the relationship in the area.

Both countries struck an agreement in 2021 for the Russian military to provide training and supplies to its Nigerian counterpart, as seen on Sputnik.

Nigeria and Russia energy deal

Midway into February, Russia and Nigeria got into talks about a nuclear partnership.

The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, made this known during an interview with the Russian newspaper, Sputnik, on the sidelines of the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa.

He disclosed that the West African economic giant and Africa’s largest oil producer is currently negotiating a potential partnership with Russia in nuclear energy and several other areas.

"There are so many opportunities that have been discussed. We have discussed atomic energy, we've discussed mining, we've discussed previous investments during the Soviet era that need to be carried on," the minister revealed.

At the start of the year, Nigeria was accepted as a partner state into the BRICS group of nations, where Russia is a primary stakeholder.

Shortly after, Yusuf Tuggar noted that Nigeria would be bolstering its economic cooperation with other BRICS nations across different sectors.

“The formal acceptance to participate as a partner country [of BRICS] underscores Nigeria's commitment to fostering international collaboration, leveraging economic opportunities, and advancing strategic partnerships that align with Nigeria's development objectives,” he stated at the time.

Nigeria’s current membership falls in line with its original goal, as it had stated back in 2023 that it planned to join BRICS within the next 2 years.

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

US to probe past foreign aid to Nigeria, others amid terrorism funding concerns

The United States government has announced plans to investigate how past foreign aid to Nigeria and other countries was spent.

This decision follows President Donald Trump’s January 20, 2025, directive to suspend all foreign aid for 90 days, citing concerns about global destabilization and the misuse of American resources.

The move is in response to growing demands for a thorough review of funds disbursed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), particularly in the health sector.

During a hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last Thursday, US Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, alleged that USAID funds may have indirectly supported terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money—$697 million annually—plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, and terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry claimed.

In response to the allegations, the US Mission to Nigeria issued a statement on Tuesday via its official X handle, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that aid funds reach legitimate recipients.

“Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to help verify that U.S. assistance reaches intended recipients.

“The United States condemns the violence and blatant disregard for human life perpetrated by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria and the region”, the statement read.

The mission also highlighted that Boko Haram was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization on November 14, 2013, as part of efforts to freeze the group’s assets, block its fundraising activities, and prosecute its members.

“The United States continues to work with Nigeria and regional partners to counter terrorism,” the statement concluded.

The suspension of aid have sparked concerns among some development agencies, who warn that a prolonged funding freeze could disrupt critical health, education, and humanitarian programs across Africa and beyond.

By Ojochenemi Onje, Business Day

Nigeria seeks to collaborate with India to speed up energy transition

Nigeria is seeking to collaborate with India to accelerate its energy transition plans, a senior Nigerian government official said on Tuesday.

Other than funding, Nigeria plans to seek technical assistance from India to implement its green energy plans, Agbu Kefas, governor of Nigeria's Taraba state, told Reuters on the sidelines of the India Energy Week.

"(The) world is moving towards green energy and we also have to move along. But the challenges we have is the funding to be able to meet up with this," Kefas said.

India is ramping up its non-fossil fuel capacity, planning to connect a record 35 gigawatts of solar and wind energy capacity to its grid during the fiscal year ending March 2025.

Nigeria has already urged the United States to provide it with funding to help Africa's leading oil producer accelerate its energy transition plans.

Kefas said alternative energy is also the solution for communities that have been unable to connect to the national grid.

Nigeria's power grid often suffers from frequent failures due to ageing infrastructure, under-investment and vandalism, resulting in frequent blackouts.

Reuters

Video - Chinese community in Nigeria celebrates in Abuja

Members of the Chinese community in Abuja have joined millions around the world to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. Festivities to bring in the Year of the Snake featured a colorful display of Chinese cuisine, music, and dance performances for more than 2,000 attendees.

CGTN

Nigeria's new BRICS partner status sparks economic optimism, debate

Nigerian authorities said this week that the nation’s new partnership status with the BRICS bloc could unlock critical opportunities in trade, investment and agriculture.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser told Lagos-based Channels Television that the partnership, which became official Friday, is pivotal to promoting trade, investment, food security, infrastructure development and energy security.

The adviser, Daniel Bwala, said the pact enables Nigeria to forge deeper strategic relationships with BRICS members beyond traditional bilateral partnerships.

BRICS — an acronym for the founding members of Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa added a year later — is a political and economic bloc. BRICS introduced the "partner country” category in October. Partner nations are a step below full membership.

Economist Emeka Okengwu praised the arrangement.

"Look at the members of BRICS and the economies that they bring to the table. Brazil is probably the biggest producer of livestock and its products globally, then to aircraft, aviation and renewable energy,” Okengwu said. “Look at Russia, India, China and South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. These are big populations.

If you put them together, they probably bring 10 times the value of whatever Europe and America can give to you," he said.

In total, the 10 BRICS member states make up 40% of the global economy and 55% of the global population.

In a statement, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the country’s participation in BRICS reflects its commitment to leveraging global economic opportunities to advance national development goals.

Last December, Nigeria intensified efforts to join not only BRICS but also the G20 organization of the world’s major economies and the BRICS New Development Bank.

Okengwu said the partnership will help Nigeria at "being productive, taking goods and services in there, being able to meet global standards and being competitive.”

“It would've been horrible if Nigeria was not in BRICS and then we would've been left hanging with all these challenges we're having with our neighbors in the Sahel," Okengwu said.

Despite the optimism, analysts say Nigeria faces significant hurdles.

The country’s struggling economy and inadequate infrastructure raise concerns about its capacity for meaningful growth through BRICS. There's also concern about how Nigeria will balance its alliances with Western nations while deepening ties with BRICS.

However, Ndu Nwokolo, an economist with Nextier, suggested the challenge is manageable.

"It's about how smart you are to benefit from everybody,” Nwokolo said. “With what we're seeing by some of the pronouncements of [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump, Nigeria may benefit from it because already Trump is talking about increasing taxes [tariffs] even within ally states.

“So, if he's going to do that with countries we think are traditional partners, so who's telling you that he will not do more with countries that he considers outsiders,” he said. “So, we're looking at a situation where countries that are not originally traditional allies of America will try to pull together, and Nigeria may benefit from that.”

By Timothy Obiezu, VOA

Related story: Video - Nigeria joins BRICS as ninth partner country

Video - Nigeria joins BRICS as ninth partner country

Following Uganda’s recent inclusion, Nigeria has officially joined the BRICS alliance as a partner country, strengthening its economic, trade, and geopolitical ties with member countries China, India, Brazil, and Russia.

CGTN

U.S. Donates New Office Space to NDLEA, Boosts Nigeria’s Counter Narcotics Efforts

The United States Government, through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has donated an office space to the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos.

Acting U.S. Consul General JoEllen Gorg formally handed over the keys to the new office space to NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retired), during a ceremony attended by representatives from AFRICOM and the DEA.

Acting Consul General Gorg noted that the donation of a new office, equipped with a solar power system, represents a significant step forward in U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation. She noted that the new facility will provide NDLEA officers with a secure and professional environment to carry out critical investigative functions, including processing detainees and conducting post-arrest interviews.

“The U.S.-Nigeria security partnership remains strong. This donation is the latest example of the robust and productive cooperation between the U.S. government and the NDLEA,” Acting Consul General Gorg said. “Over the years, our joint efforts have helped build the capacity of Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks, dismantle clandestine meth labs, and conduct advanced forensic analyses of synthetic drugs.”

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Marwa lauded the U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and countering narcotics trafficking. He described the United States as a steadfast ally in Nigeria’s fight against drug-related crimes and noted that that the collaboration has significantly enhanced the NDLEA’s operational efficiency.

In 2024, the U.S. government invested approximately $500,000 to modernize and equip the chemical forensic laboratory at the NDLEA zonal office in Lagos. The upgraded laboratory, now equipped with cutting-edge technology, enhances the NDLEA’s capacity to analyze suspicious substances and process evidence from crime scenes and suspects.

Since the establishment of the NDLEA in 1990, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria has partnered with the agency to combat narcotics trafficking. Through training in intelligence, evidence collection, management, and tactical skills, including equipment donation, the U.S. Mission continues to deepen its cooperation with the NDLEA.

U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria

Video - Analyst highlights key sectors benefiting from China-Nigeria relations

The development of Nigeria-China relations is robust, with multiple sectors recording gains. Analysts project even more benefits in the period ahead.

CGTN

Video - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Nigerian President Bola Tinubu

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China is prepared to assist Nigeria in accelerating its development initiatives and combating terrorism. President Bola Tinubu, in response, emphasized that the successful implementation of outcomes from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Beijing last year will significantly aid Nigeria's national development.

CGTN

Video - General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian Head of State, reflects on Jimmy Carter’s death

Speaking to VOA’s Hausa service, General Yakubu Gowon, a former head of state of Nigeria, talks about his experiences with former President Jimmy Carter, who visited the country in the late 1970s to begin his work combatting Guinea worm disease.

VOA

Nigeria reopens embassy in North Korea after nearly four-year pandemic closure

Nigeria has reopened its embassy in Pyongyang after closing the mission in early 2021 due to the pandemic, making it only the second African country with an active foothold in North Korea.

The two countries have continued diplomatic relations in the interim years through the still-open DPRK Embassy in Abuja, though accusations have emerged of attempted weapons trading between the two countries in violation of sanctions.

The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang stated in a Facebook post on Dec. 12 that Patrick Imodu Imologhome is Nigeria’s charge d’affaires and that he had “recently arrived” in Pyongyang.

Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora reportedly met Imologhome on Dec. 11 and discussed “current issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.” Matsegora offered to help the Nigerians get resettled in Pyongyang after their extended absence.

The Chinese Embassy also reported that Ambassador Wang Yajun met Imologhome on Dec. 13, though the report only mentioned discussions of China-Nigeria ties.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu appointed Imologhome as charge d’affaires back in April, according to the country’s foreign ministry, but neither side has reported details about an ambassador.

Imologhome previously served as a minister at the Nigerian Embassy to the Vatican.

His arrival ends a closure of the Nigerian Embassy in Pyongyang that lasted about three years and nine months, after the last diplomats left Pyongyang in March 2021. This followed a general exodus of most embassies due to North Korea’s strict COVID-19 rules that forbid inbound travel and restricted imports, leading to shortages and reduced quality of life for diplomats.

Pyongyang didn’t start to allow foreign diplomats back into the country until early 2023. Egypt is the only other African country with an active embassy in North Korea, its charge d’affaires remaining in Pyongyang throughout the pandemic.

North Korea appointed its ambassador to Nigeria, Jon Tong Chol, in early 2018, and he has remained in Abuja throughout the pandemic.

Ambassador Jon has held frequent meetings with Nigerian foreign ministry officials in Abuja in recent years, though most public reports have lacked details about their discussions. He signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in public health in 2020.

Though Nigeria claimed compliance with U.N. sanctions measures requiring all North Korean workers in the country to be expelled by late Dec. 2019, some health workers reportedly did not return home.

Jon also called for increasing parliamentary exchanges during a meeting with the leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress party in late 2023.

U.N. Panel of Experts reports in recent years have suggested that Pyongyang has used Nigeria as a staging ground or home base for conducting business in violation of sanctions, including weapons deals.

A Panel report in late 2022 said an unnamed U.N. member state had provided evidence that the DPRK’s Haegumgang Trading Corporation attempted “to broker the sale of approximately $3.5 million worth of military-related equipment to Nigeria.”

North Korea has also reportedly employed the help of a Nigerian influencer to launder illicit funds, while DPRK government-connected companies are alleged to have ignored sanctions to work with Nigerian companies in more money-laundering schemes.

Pyongyang signaled interest in developing economic ties by sending then-vice cabinet premier Ri Ryong Nam to Abuja for high-level talks in 2019.

By Colin Zwirko, NK News

Regional analysts suggest caution as Nigeria signs new deals with France

Political analysts in Nigeria say the country needs to be careful after signing a series of agreements with France during President Bola Tinubu’s three-day visit to the European country last week.

Tinubu’s three-day visit to France was the first official state visit to Paris by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades.

During the visit, Nigeria and France signed two major deals, including a $300 million pact to develop critical infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, agriculture and health care in Nigeria.

Both nations also signed an agreement to increase food security and develop Nigeria's solid minerals sector.

Tinubu has been trying to attract investments to boost Nigeria's ailing economy. While many praise his latest deals with France, some critics are urging caution.

The deals come as France looks for friends in West Africa following a series of military coups in countries where it formerly had strong ties — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Ahmed Buhari, a political affairs analyst, criticized the partnership.

"Everybody is trying to look for a new development partner that would seemingly be working in their own interest, but obviously we don't seem to be on the same page,” Buhari said. “We're partnering with France, who [has] been responsible for countries like Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and the likes, and we haven't seen significant developments in those places in the last 100 years."

Abuja-based political analyst Chris Kwaja said France's strained relationships with the Sahelian states do not affect Nigeria.

"That the countries of the Sahel have a fractured relationship with France does not in any way define the future of the Nigeria-France relationship,” Kwaja said. “No country wants to operate as an island. Every country is looking at strategic partnerships and relationships.”

France has a long history of involvement in the Sahel region, including military intervention, economic cooperation and development aid. Critics say the countries associated with France have been grappling with poverty and insecurity.

Eze Onyekpere, economist and founder of the Center for Social Justice, said Nigeria must be wary of any deal before signing.

"It is a little bit disappointing considering the reputation of France in the way they've been exploiting minerals across the Sahel,’ Onyekpere said. “They've been undertaking exploitation in a way and manner that's not in the best interest of those countries. I hope we have good enough checks to make sure that the agreements signed will generally be in the interest of both countries and not a one-sided agreement."

Nigeria is France’s top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

During the president's visit, two Nigerian banks — Zenith and United Bank for Africa — also signed agreements to expand their operations into France.

By Timothy Obiezu, VOA