Mexico–Nigeria relations

Mexico and Nigeria are two regional power nations in Latin America and Africa, respectively. Both nations established diplomatic relations with each other on 14 April 1976.[1] Three months after establishing diplomatic relations, Mexico opened an embassy in Lagos, however, the embassy was closed in 1979 due to financial restraints. In 1981, Nigeria opened an embassy in Mexico City and later closed its diplomatic mission two years later in 1983. Nigeria re-opened its embassy in Mexico in 2000 and Mexico followed suit by opening an embassy in Abuja (the new capital of Nigeria since 1991) in 2008.[1]

In 1981, Nigerian President Shehu Shagari attended a summit for Heads of States in Cancun where he met with his counterpart, Mexican President José López Portillo and leaders of other nations.[2] Since 2000, bilateral relations and high level meetings between both nations have steadily increased. In March 2002, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo paid his first visit to Mexico to attend the Monterrey Consensus held in the norther Mexican city of Monterrey.[3] In September 2002, President Vicente Fox became the first Mexican head-of-state to pay an official visit to Nigeria.[1] In September 2005, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo paid a second visit to Mexico.[4]

In 2016, Mexico and Nigeria celebrated 40 years of diplomatic relations.[5]

Nigerian President Shehu Shagari attending the North–South Summit in Cancun along with his Mexican counterpart, President José López Portillo; 1981

High-level visits from Mexico to Nigeria

• President Vicente Fox (2002)

High-level visits from Nigeria to Mexico

• President Shehu Shagari (1981)
• President Olusegun Obasanjo (2002, 2005)

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as an Agreement for Educative and Cultural Cooperation (1999); Agreement to Establish Consultations on Mutual Interests (2012); Memorandum of Understanding between ProMéxico and the Council for the Promotion of Exports of Nigeria (2015); Memorandum of Understanding between Bancomext and the Nigerian Bank for Exports and Imports (2015); and a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Universities Commission of Nigeria and the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education of Mexico (2016).[1]

In 2018, trade between the two nations totaled US$183 million dollars.[6] Mexico's main exports to Nigeria include: building materials, tequila, cement, machinery and electronics. Nigeria's main exports to Mexico include: natural gas and sesame seeds.[1] Nigeria is Mexico's 55th biggest trading partner globally and second biggest trading partner in Africa (after South Africa). Mexican multinational companies such as Cemex and Grupo Bimbo operate in Nigeria.

• Mexico has an embassy in Abuja.[7]
• Nigeria has an embassy in Mexico City.[8]