Russia has expressed its readiness to deepen trade and technological cooperation with Nigeria, focusing on boosting bilateral business ties and advancing space technology collaboration.
Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podelyshev, announced the initiative during a briefing in Abuja ahead of Russia Day celebrations on June 12. He emphasized that the Russian embassy and trade office are prepared to assist Nigerian businesses in connecting with Russian companies across key sectors.
“Russia offers significant opportunities in economic and technological fields that can benefit Nigeria and Africa in the long term,” Podelyshev said. He highlighted Russia’s strengths in space exploration, aircraft engineering, automobile manufacturing, electric power, nuclear energy, oil and gas, agricultural machinery, artificial intelligence, and information technology.
The ambassador noted Russia’s dynamic economic growth, with a nominal GDP exceeding $2.5 trillion by the end of 2024 and a foreign trade turnover estimated at $717 billion. He also pointed out that Russia’s trade settlements increasingly use national currencies, reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar.
Podelyshev highlighted Russia’s pioneering role in space technology, revealing plans to complete a national orbital station by 2032 following the International Space Station’s planned retirement. Russia’s space industry comprises about 100 enterprises employing over 250,000 people and maintains collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency despite geopolitical tensions.
Nigeria, which formally joined the BRICS bloc as a partner country in January 2025, stands to gain from these expanded ties with Russia, a country known for its vast resources and technological expertise.
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