Iran Nigeria Ties: Deepening South-South Cooperation on Revolution Anniversary
By: Abudu Olalekan
Crowds in Abuja. Flags waving. It’s the 47th bash for Iran’s Islamic Revolution. Nigeria’s bigwigs, diplomats, even a governor show up. Story’s simple: Old pals Iran and Nigeria vowing tighter bonds. South-South style. Reportersroom was there—caught the vibes.
Flashback to 1979. Iran shakes off the old guard. People rise up. Boom. Independence. Sovereignty. Real power to the folks. Ambassador Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja lays it out. “Not just a power swap,” he says. “It’s dignity restored. National pride.” Despite sanctions, wars— Iran’s crushed it. Homegrown tech. Killer healthcare. Factories humming. Non-oil exports booming. Roads, bridges everywhere.
Foreign policy? Smart. Balanced. Chat-first. Iran sees itself as regional heavyweight, global player. Neighbors first. Emerging powers next. Peace pushes. Sustainable wins.
Now, Nigeria. Longtime buds. Mutual respect. Shared goals. Raja beams: “Nigeria’s key in our Africa game. We got energy smarts, industry muscle, farm tech, health fixes, education know-how. Perfect for your dev dreams.” Deeper ties? Wins for both. Boosts global peace. South-South solidarity.
Nigeria reps back it hard. Amb. Bukar Buni Hamman, standing in for Foreign Affairs Perm Sec Dunoma Umar Ahmed. “Happy anniversary,” he toasts. “Iran’s milestone. Big history lesson on governance.” Nigeria digs Iran as key global player. Ties solid—respectful, constructive. Econ links growing. Energy swaps. Farm goods. Factory bits. Consumer stuff. Room to explode under South-South.
“Nigeria’s all in on peace,” Hamman adds. “Sovereignty respect. Talk over fights. Diplomacy rules.”
Enter Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed. Pumps the brakes? Nah, full throttle. “Iran matters big to Nigeria, Africa,” he says. “Trade. Self-reliance.” History deep—over 1,000 years with northern Nigeria spots. Aid flows. Community lifts.
Big reveal. Iranian firm building lead-zinc plant in Bauchi. Full chain—no raw exports. Jobs. Value. Talks hot on farms, livestock. Ranches. Dairy. “We’re here to learn,” Bala grins. “Boost ties. Tell investors: Nigeria’s welcoming. Thrive here.” Wishes Iran more unity, growth, prosperity.
Event wraps upbeat. Handshakes. Pledges. Trade ramps. Investments flow. Diplomacy deepens. Shared wins ahead.
Think about it. Two nations, rising powers. Facing global grind. Teaming up? Smart move. Iran’s grit inspires. Nigeria’s market huge. Energy chats? Farms? Tech transfers? Endless potential. But hurdles loom. Sanctions bite Iran. Nigeria’s econ wobbles. Still, this anniversary sparks hope.
Raja nailed the revolution’s core. Not elite games. People’s will. Same vibe in Nigeria’s push for dev. Bala’s projects? Proof. Local jobs over raw sells. Hamman’s words echo multilateral musts. UN vibes, AU style.
Challenges? Yeah. Regional tiffs. Global trade walls. But dialogue wins. As Raja put it, responsible play on world stage. Nigeria agrees. Peaceful coexistence.
Governor’s pitch personal. Bauchi-Iran link? Ancient roots meet modern hustle. That zinc plant? Game-changer. No more resource curse. Full processing. Dairy ranches? Feeds millions.
Abuja event felt electric. Laughter. Toasts. Renewed fire for collab. Reportersroom sees it clear: This ain’t lip service. Real moves brewing. Watch for deals soon.
South-South? More than buzzword. It’s lifeline. Iran-Nigeria duo? Powerhouse potential. Revolution spirit lives. Nigeria tunes in.
