By Lawal Sale
The newly appointed Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Andrey Leonidovich Podelyshev, has described the extant Russia-Nigeria relations as “strong ties bound by strong ties of friendship and cooperation”.
In a statement he personally signed, Podelyshev noted that diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on Nov. 25, 1960, adding that since then, the two countries had come a long way, strengthening mutual respect and the spirit of partnership among them.
He said: “In 2001, our countries signed the Declaration on the Principles of Friendly Relations and Partnership, which was an important milestone in the development of ties between Russia and Nigeria.”
Podelyshev stressed that the bilateral cooperation covered a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, culture, education and science, adding that “we cooperate to ensure regional and global security, peacekeeping, and sustainable development.“There are positive dynamics in the economic sphere.”
He noted that “according to various estimates, trade turnover has exceeded 1 billion U.S. dollars, which testifies to the growing interest of businesses in mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Besides, the envoy, in the statement, noted that a special attention had been paid to humanitarian ties, while Russian universities annually hosted hundreds of Nigerian students, giving them the opportunity to receive quality education in various fields.
He also said that Nigerian delegations regularly participated in youth and women’s forums, educational conferences, as well as fairs on Russian education.
Podelyshev emphasized that in addition to the traditionally constructive interactions at the United Nations (UN), Nigeria’s status as a partner country in BRICS had opened up new horizons.
“I am convinced that deepening cooperation in the international arena, including within the framework of these structures, will serve both the interests of our countries and the goals of enhancing the authority and role of developing countries and the global South,” he said.
The ambassador pledged that during his duty tour to Nigeria, he planned to build contacts, not only with Nigerian officials but also with representatives of business circles, the public and the academic community, as well as Russian compatriots and former graduates of Soviet and Russian tertiary institutions.
He solicited the support and active participation of all stakeholders in strengthening Russia-Nigeria relations.”Together, we can achieve significant success and contribute to the prosperity of our people,” he stated.
— Sale is an Abuja-based Global Affairs
