Nigeria and Sweden have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a renewed focus on trade, innovation and regional cooperation.
This was the outcome of a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
During the engagement, Ambassador Westerholm expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s hospitality since assuming office in August 2025, describing relations between both countries as cordial and marked by strong goodwill.
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She reaffirmed Sweden’s readiness to deepen cooperation across key sectors of mutual interest.
The Ambassador identified trade, investment and partnerships as central to Sweden’s engagement with Nigeria, highlighting opportunities in digital infrastructure, innovation and technology development.
She noted Sweden’s interest in supporting Nigeria’s green and digital transition, leveraging its strengths as a technology-driven economy.
She also pointed to prospects for collaboration in the energy sector, as well as in the cultural and creative industries, particularly music production.
According to her, Nigeria’s globally recognised Afrobeats and creative talent present opportunities for partnerships that combine Swedish expertise with Nigeria’s vibrant creative ecosystem.
Sweedish Trade Office
Ambassador Westerholm further disclosed that Sweden has upgraded its commercial presence in Nigeria with the establishment of a Swedish Trade Office in Lagos, led by a government-appointed Trade Commissioner.
The move, she said, follows a recent visit by the Swedish Crown Princess and signals Sweden’s commitment to boosting trade and investment ties.
On the multilateral front, the Swedish envoy commended Nigeria’s role in promoting a rules-based international order and ongoing cooperation at the United Nations.
She also reiterated Sweden’s commitment to working with Nigeria within international and regional frameworks.
Discussions also covered developments in West Africa, including the situation in the Sahel and evolving dynamics within Economic Community of West African States, as well as relations with the Alliance of Sahel States.
Strengthening Democratic Institutions
In his remarks, Ambassador Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and regional cooperation mechanisms to address security and governance challenges.
He emphasised Nigeria’s continued engagement with regional partners to promote stability and dialogue across the sub-region.
The Minister also underscored the importance of economic integration, noting progress under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
He, however, stressed the need for greater private sector participation to fully harness the benefits of regional trade frameworks.
Both sides agreed to sustain high-level consultations and explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Sweden.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s State Secretary is expected to visit Nigeria next week for further high-level discussions.