Malaysia, Nigeria forge stronger ties as bilateral trade soars to $956m

In a vibrant celebration of Malaysia’s 67th Independence Day, held on Friday, September 20th, in Abuja, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Aiyub bin Omar, shed light on the flourishing bilateral relations between Malaysia and Nigeria. Highlighting the impressive $956 million in trade between the two nations in 2023, Omar emphasized Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to nurturing a robust diplomatic relationship with Nigeria, especially in the areas of trade and education.

As the two countries approach the milestone of 60 years of bilateral relations by 2025, Omar stated, “In essence, our bilateral relations focus on trade, education, people-to-people contact, and bilateral development assistance. Globally, Nigeria ranks as Malaysia’s 37th trading partner.” He further noted that Nigeria is Malaysia’s 4th largest trading partner in Africa, trailing only South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Amb. Mistura Abdulraheem, Director of the Asia-Pacific Division, applauded the Malaysian populace for their unity, resilience, and progress. This camaraderie is mirrored in the educational sector, with 3,386 Nigerian students currently enrolled in Malaysian public and private institutions, showcasing the educational synergy between the two nations.

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A significant development in the bilateral relationship is the impending signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) and the Malaysian Government. This agreement promises to catalyze the development of palm biomass in Nigeria. The ambitious initiative aims not only to convert waste into wealth by mirroring Malaysia’s successful palm biomass industry but also to create over five million jobs within five years.