Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Soviet Union were established on 25 November 1960.
The Prime Minister of Nigeria at the time, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa had a pro-West orientation in his foreign policy, which represented for abhorrence to USSR and other Eastern Bloc states. As a result, the circulation of communist literature in Nigeria was banned and students were discouraged from taking Soviet scholarships. Balewa had personally assured the British government "we shall use every means in our power to prevent the infiltration of communism and communist ideas into Nigeria."[1] At one point, the Soviets were implicated in a plot to overthrow Balewa’s government.[1]
After the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup, the Soviet Union welcomed General Yakubu Gowon as the new Nigerian leader, especially with the release from prison of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had been sympathetic to closer ties with the Soviet Union.[2] Gowon sent a special envoy to Kremlin to further ties.[2]
Civil War
During the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970, the USSR provided the Nigerian government with political and military assistance.[2] In January 1970, Nigerian Ambassador George Kurubo praised the Soviet military aid, sayin that it "more than any other single thing—more than all other things together" contributed to the government victory. Furthermore, he noted “something commendable, something great and something honorable in this attitude.”[3]
Later years
A Soviet-owned Ajaokuta Steel Mill and a college and technical school were established in 1975 in Warri.[2] In 1979, Nigeria ordered the Soviet Union to cut its contingent of military advisers in the country from 40 to 5 staff members, in response to inefficient performance and “condescending attitudes” on the part of the Soviet advisers, who train Nigerians to fly Soviet MIG‐21 fighters.[4] In 1984, General Tunde Idiagbon, the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters and second in command to Muhammadu Buhari, led a delegation to the Soviet Union to meet with Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko.[5]
Since 1991
Nigeria and the newly formed Russian Federation established diplomatic relations in 1991.[citation needed] In March 2001, the President of NigeriaOlusegun Obasanjo visited Moscow. During that visit, Vladimir Putin and Olusegun Obasanjo signed the declaration “On the Principles of Friendly Relations and Partnership Between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, as well as a program of cooperation in bilateral and international formats between Russia and Nigeria. On June 24, 2009 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made an official visit to Nigeria as part of a 3 nation tour of Africa. It was the first visit by any Russian leader to Nigeria.[6][7]
Military cooperation
In 2017, Russia and Nigeria signed an agreement on military cooperation. Nigeria is interested in buying Russian military equipment. Nigeria has already signed a contract for the purchase of Mi-35 helicopters, six of which have already been delivered.[8] In August 2021, Nigeria and Russia signed an agreement for the Russian Armed Forces to train and supply the Nigerian Armed Forces.[9] It was signed in Moscow by Nigerian Minister of Defence Bashir Salihi Magashi and Russian FSVTS Director Dmitry Shugaev.
^ abOmotuyi, Sunday (2019). "Russo/Nigerian Relations in the Context of Counterinsurgency Operation in Nigeria". Jadavpur Journal of International Relations. 23: 48–68. doi:10.1177/0973598418803526. S2CID 158967078.
^ abcde https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345977455. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^"Nigeria Says Russian Help Was Vital to War Victory (Published 1970)". 21 January 1970.
^"Nigeria Orders Soviet to Reduce Advisers from 40 to 5 (Published 1979)". 22 August 1979.
^Inamete, Ufot (2001). Foreign Policy Decision-making in Nigeria. Susquehanna University Press. p. 134.
^"Официальный визит в Нигерию • Президент России". 24 June 2009.
^"Межгосударственные отношения России и Нигерии". РИА Новости (in Russian). 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
^"Nigeria, Russia Sign Military Agreement". 26 August 2021.
^"Steve Davies Ugbah, ambassador of Nigeria: "When national football team is playing, life in Nigeria stops" | TV BRICS, 24.10.19". TV BRICS. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
^"Professor Yibaikwal assumes duty as Ambassador to Moscow". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Relations of Nigeria and Russia.
(in Russian) Documents on the Nigeria–Russia relationship from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(in English and Russian) Embassy of Russia in Lagos
Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow
August 18, 2023
nigeria, russia, relations, bilateral, foreign, relations, between, nigeria, russia, russia, embassy, lagos, representative, office, abuja, nigeria, embassy, moscow, nigeria, russiathe, current, ambassador, russia, nigeria, alexey, shebarshin, contents, early,. Nigeria Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between Nigeria and Russia Russia has an embassy in Lagos and a representative office in Abuja and Nigeria has an embassy in Moscow Nigeria Russia relationsNigeria RussiaThe current Ambassador of Russia to Nigeria is Alexey Shebarshin Contents 1 Early years 2 Military governance 2 1 Civil War 2 2 Later years 3 Since 1991 4 Military cooperation 5 Ambassadors 5 1 Russia to Nigeria 5 2 Nigeria to Russia 6 References 7 External linksEarly years Edit Dmitry Medvedev in Nigeria in 2009 Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Soviet Union were established on 25 November 1960 The Prime Minister of Nigeria at the time Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa had a pro West orientation in his foreign policy which represented for abhorrence to USSR and other Eastern Bloc states As a result the circulation of communist literature in Nigeria was banned and students were discouraged from taking Soviet scholarships Balewa had personally assured the British government we shall use every means in our power to prevent the infiltration of communism and communist ideas into Nigeria 1 At one point the Soviets were implicated in a plot to overthrow Balewa s government 1 At the same time the Communist Party of the Soviet Union did not have close links with the Communist Party of Nigeria which adopted a more pro Chinese stance 2 Military governance EditAfter the 1966 Nigerian counter coup the Soviet Union welcomed General Yakubu Gowon as the new Nigerian leader especially with the release from prison of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who had been sympathetic to closer ties with the Soviet Union 2 Gowon sent a special envoy to Kremlin to further ties 2 Civil War Edit During the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970 the USSR provided the Nigerian government with political and military assistance 2 In January 1970 Nigerian Ambassador George Kurubo praised the Soviet military aid sayin that it more than any other single thing more than all other things together contributed to the government victory Furthermore he noted something commendable something great and something honorable in this attitude 3 Later years Edit A Soviet owned Ajaokuta Steel Mill and a college and technical school were established in 1975 in Warri 2 In 1979 Nigeria ordered the Soviet Union to cut its contingent of military advisers in the country from 40 to 5 staff members in response to inefficient performance and condescending attitudes on the part of the Soviet advisers who train Nigerians to fly Soviet MIG 21 fighters 4 In 1984 General Tunde Idiagbon the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters and second in command to Muhammadu Buhari led a delegation to the Soviet Union to meet with Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko 5 Since 1991 EditNigeria and the newly formed Russian Federation established diplomatic relations in 1991 citation needed In March 2001 the President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo visited Moscow During that visit Vladimir Putin and Olusegun Obasanjo signed the declaration On the Principles of Friendly Relations and Partnership Between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as a program of cooperation in bilateral and international formats between Russia and Nigeria On June 24 2009 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made an official visit to Nigeria as part of a 3 nation tour of Africa It was the first visit by any Russian leader to Nigeria 6 7 Military cooperation EditIn 2017 Russia and Nigeria signed an agreement on military cooperation Nigeria is interested in buying Russian military equipment Nigeria has already signed a contract for the purchase of Mi 35 helicopters six of which have already been delivered 8 In August 2021 Nigeria and Russia signed an agreement for the Russian Armed Forces to train and supply the Nigerian Armed Forces 9 It was signed in Moscow by Nigerian Minister of Defence Bashir Salihi Magashi and Russian FSVTS Director Dmitry Shugaev Ambassadors EditRussia to Nigeria Edit Main article List of ambassadors of Russia to Nigeria Nigeria to Russia Edit George T Kurubo 12 August 1967 1973 Hamzat Ahmadu 1975 1978 Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar January 23 2002 May 30 2003 Dan Suleiman 2006 September 18 2008 Timothy Shelpidi September 18 2008 October 14 2011 Asam Ekanem Asam 2012 2015 Steve Davies Ugbah 2018 2021 10 Abdullahi Yibaikwal 2021 present 11 References Edit Nigeria portal Russia portal a b Omotuyi Sunday 2019 Russo Nigerian Relations in the Context of Counterinsurgency Operation in Nigeria Jadavpur Journal of International Relations 23 48 68 doi 10 1177 0973598418803526 S2CID 158967078 a b c d e https www researchgate net publication 345977455 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Nigeria Says Russian Help Was Vital to War Victory Published 1970 21 January 1970 Nigeria Orders Soviet to Reduce Advisers from 40 to 5 Published 1979 22 August 1979 Inamete Ufot 2001 Foreign Policy Decision making in Nigeria Susquehanna University Press p 134 Oficialnyj vizit v Nigeriyu Prezident Rossii 24 June 2009 http www kremlin ru sdocs news shtml day 5 amp month 03 amp year 2001 amp Submit x 0 amp Submit y 0 amp value from amp value to amp date amp stype amp dayRequired no amp day enable true dead link Mezhgosudarstvennye otnosheniya Rossii i Nigerii RIA Novosti in Russian 2019 10 23 Retrieved 2020 08 22 Nigeria Russia Sign Military Agreement 26 August 2021 Steve Davies Ugbah ambassador of Nigeria When national football team is playing life in Nigeria stops TV BRICS 24 10 19 TV BRICS Retrieved 2023 03 14 Professor Yibaikwal assumes duty as Ambassador to Moscow The Guardian Nigeria News Nigeria and World News 2021 06 07 Retrieved 2023 03 14 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Relations of Nigeria and Russia in Russian Documents on the Nigeria Russia relationship from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in English and Russian Embassy of Russia in Lagos Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nigeria Russia relations amp oldid 1170294569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
