Nigeria–Saudi Arabia relations

Nigeria-Saudi Arabia relations refers to bilateral relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Nigeria has an embassy in Riyadh[1] while Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Abuja.[2] Both countries are member of OPEC.

Nigerian-Saudi Arabian relations
Map indicating locations of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia

Nigeria
Saudi Arabia

History

Relations between the two nations have existed since 1960.[3]

In 2021, Nigerian Senate President Ahmad Lawan asked the Government of Saudi Arabia to bring back over 10,000 detained citizens held in detention centers in Saudi Arabia. Many were detained for breaking Saudi Arabia's ban on Nigerian pilgrims to Hajj. Lawan also appealed to Saudi Arabia to use its influence in OPEC to increase Nigeria's crude oil production quota.[4]

Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Ebraheem Alghamdi, stated the Kingdom is ready to expand its bilateral relations with Nigeria in critical economic sectors such as Oil, Gas and Agriculture.[5]

In 2021, Saudi Arabia banned Nigerian pilgrims from attending the 2021 hajj due to Covid-19 concerns. Over 70,000 pilgrims from Nigeria were given refunds for their deposits. It was the second year in a row that the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah banned Nigerian pilgrims from attending.[6]

Trade

In 2019, Nigeria exported US$12.4 million worth of goods to Saudi Arabia. The biggest export was charcoal. Saudi Arabia in the same year exported US$334 Million of which the largest export was Polypropylene.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Embassy of Nigeria, Riyadh". ngembassy.info. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. "Saudi Arabia Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria". embassypages.com.
  3. Sobowale, Rasheed (24 September 2019). "Nigeria: Saudi Arabia Set to Further Improve Relations With Nigeria". allafrica.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. "Assist to bring back detained Nigerians, Lawan urges Saudi Govt". vanguardngr.com. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. Salau, Abdullateef (5 April 2021). "Saudi Arabia pledges to deepen bilateral ties with Nigeria". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. "2021 Hajj: Saudi Arabia bars Nigeria, other countries". guardian.ng. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. "What does Nigeria export to Saudi Arabia? (2019)". oec.world. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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